The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Congress game for debate on tenders

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 11, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Congress game for debate on tenders

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, NOV. 10. Seven members of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) have challenged Telugu Desam leaders to come for an open debate on the Government's commitment to completing irrigation projects and on the transparency in the tender process.

Refuting charges of irregularities in the irrigation tenders, the former Ministers -- D.L. Ravindra Reddy and Gali Muddukrishnama Naidu -- and others said on Wednesday that TD leaders were trying to "demoralise" the Government by making "wild allegations.'' Once the projects were completed, the TDP would not have any chance to stage a comeback, they added.

They accused a former Home Minister, who recently crossed over to the TDP, of making money in awarding contracts to a favoured person. "He has no right to criticise the Chief Minister as he was instrumental in bagging contracts for his favourite contractors and thereby making lot of money," they alleged.

Favouritism alleged

They said the former Minister had backed a contractor who quoted 200 per cent excess prices for some works in the Srisailam Right Branch Canal (SRBC). They alleged that the former Minister was responsible for the Government losing revenue to the tune of Rs. 200 crores.

They referred to a particular contractor claiming more money for SRBC works. Citing an example, they said for the SRBC - VII package works between 1991-93, as against the estimated value of Rs. 26.64 crores, the agreement value shot up to Rs. 46.54 crores and the contractor was finally paid Rs. 54 crores in 1991-93. The Government was forced to pay two times the actual cost of the works between 1993 and 1997, they charged.

The CLP members defended the EPC system, saying it did not give any scope for misuse when compared with the item-wise tender process.

The Congress leaders said it was during the TD regime that a select few contractors were favoured for particular works. They demanded action against persons who had tried to disrupt the tender process irrespective of their party affiliation.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh