GSIDC terminates firm’s contract citing unsatisfactory services
TEAM HERALD
[email protected]
PANJIM: The contract for the construction of the first phase of the mining corridor has been terminated by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC), last month citing reasons of alleged unsatisfactory services by the appointed firm ~ M/s NCS Ltd, sources said.
The Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation Board which met recently has ratified the decision of the Corporation in terminating the contract and has served a notice for a joint assessment to be carried out by the GSIDC and the firm with which the contract has been terminated.
Top officials in the GSIDC state that work was barely progressing even though the first phase of the mining corridor from Capxem to Guddemol was to be completed within a period of 10 months from April 2012.
The agency was appointed for constructing the by-pass road for mining traffic from Uguem to Capxem. Work on Phase I from Capxem to Guddemol, a stretch of around 9 kms would cost Rs 90 crore.
“We will now carry out a joint inspection to assess how much work has been completed and the quantum of work left to be completed,” said a GSIDC official.
“Fresh tenders may have to be floated to have the remaining work on the first phase completed,” he said.
While the land acquisition for the first phase has been completed and disputes over forest land diversion sorted out, land acquisition for the second phase of the corridor is still in progress for the stretch from Guddemol to Uguem.
The two phases together measure around 17 kms of the mining corridor.
The project faced hurdles right from the commencement with the Forest Department seeking diversion of close to 18 hectares of forest land for the mining corridor, in addition to delay on the part of the PWD in depositing money towards land acquisition. The termination of the contract is likely to see a further delay in the completion of the work. However, the present stay on mining appears to have given the GSIDC a breather. The GSIDC denies there are any financial implications even as the dismissed contracting agency has moved the court to restrain the Corporation from encashing its bank guarantee.
