THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government Contractors Association has decided to approach the High Court against the government's decision to grant works to 20 accredited contracting agencies without quoting tender. They claim that works worth Rs 977.7 crore have been awarded to these agencies when the KGCA had agreed to take up the works at Rs 100 crore less than what they have quoted.
Currently, the Uralungal Labour Contract Society, KITCO, Inkel, Habitat, Costford, Nirmithi Kendra and several other companies have more freedom to get advance amount and initiate the works of the PWD.
KGCA officials feel that a political lobby is behind the move to protect the private agencies. The Central Vigilance Commission and the Supreme Court had ordered that tender process should be strictly followed before granting a work to them.
“The World Bank’s projects aim to strengthen the local contractors with special schemes like Institutional Strength-ening Action Plan (ISAP) which have now gone in vain. The High Court will consider our petition on April 4 where we are filing a new affidavit citing that we are ready to take up the work at Rs 100-crore less. So far the state government has sanctioned Rs 977.7 crore towards five projects,” said Mr Varghese Kannampally, president, KGCA.
The five projects include Nadukani – Vazhikadavu- Nilambur-Edavanna- Manjeri-Malappuram-Vengara- Tirurangadi - Parappa-nangadi Road- Valiyazek-kal bridge for Rs 146.50 crore, Ramanattukara overbridge – Rs 85 crore, Thondayad overbridge – Rs 59 crore and Hill Highway-Cherupuzha- Payyavur- Ulikkal-Vellithodu road – Rs 237.20 crore. All these projects have been awarded to Uralungal Labour Contract Society to the tune of Rs 977.7 crore without quoting tender.
Dr. K. M. Abraham, additional chief secretary (finance) in a GO dated 07/08/2015 (GO (P) No.339/2015/Fin) had stated that 17 accredited private agencies will be permitted to undertake general works in addition to the specialized works which have been already authorized. Later, seven more government agencies were added in to the panel.
“The government has granted works to these agencies as per the clearance received from the cabinet. Kozhikode bypass was completed by Uralungal Labour Contract Society in 15 months instead of three years which shows their speed and quality of the work”, said a top PWD official.
