Two Godavarikhani based agencies were awarded contract as they quoted lesser amount
Karimnagar Municipal Corporation. - dc
Karimnagar: The ongoing row over tenders for taking up sanitation works in the city is ruining image the of Karimnagar Municipal Corporation. It all began when civic officials cancelled the permission accorded to two new agencies to execute the works. Now, the issue is at the doorstep of High Court. In order to clean the drains and roads of the city every day by deploying 681 daily-wage labourers, the civic body invited sealed tenders from potential agencies in the month of August.
The estimated cost of the sanitation works was pegged at Rs11 crore. The process of receiving and finalisation of tenders was carried out through online to ensure transparency and accountability. After examining the criteria and price bids, two agencies, based in Godavarikha-ni and Manthani, were awa-rded the works for quoting five per cent less of the estimated cost.
The authorities rejected bids filed by five other agencies as they mentioned excess amount of two per cent. The five agencies have been executing the works from the past 15 years. “Irked by the denial, owners of these agencies, with the help of some corporato-rs, allegedly managed to convince local public representatives to cancel the works granted for us, without citing a reason,” lamented a representative of Godavari-khani-based agency, which moved High Court for rejecting their bids.
Meanwhile, BJP corporator Bandi Sanjay approached the HC, alleging that the rejection of the accepted tenders would lead to cancellation of the whole process, due to which contractor of the previous five agencies would be extended. The newly posted KMC commissioner Srikesh Lathkar and staff of engineering wing drew flak for their alleged role in the rejection.
Employees of the engineering wing are taking leave for a long period, following criticism, but low-cadre employees are being victimised in the entire episode. It is learnt that the higher authorities of civic body sought a comprehensive report over the issue. Sources said that the civic authorities were trying to frame new guidelines, which would be advantageous to the five agencies.
( Source : dc correspondent )
Next Story
