The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Opinion split among officials

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 23, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Opinion split among officials

M. Malleswara Rao

Making irrigation tender documents public as demanded by Opposition

HYDERABAD: Opinion is divided in the Government over making public records relating to irrigation tenders as demanded by the Opposition at the public debate.

There is a growing feeling among engineers in the Irrigation Department, who actually dealt with the tenders, that papers submitted by contractors indicating their qualifications such as execution of "similar work" and annual turnover can, after all, be shown to technical experts deputed by Opposition parties.

The Engineer-in-Chief, B. V. S. Prakasa Rao, and a few others are stated to have suggested that the Government show these documents to the Opposition on the plea that such an act will clear, once and for all, the lingering doubts about the fairness of the transaction.

A number of other irrigation engineers who are directly connected with the tenders have endorsed the view but are not willing to go on record.

On the other hand, top officials, including P. Sitapathi Rao, Advisor, Irrigation, feel otherwise. When contacted on Thursday, they said they had taken a "principled stand" that submission of documents would amount to violation of the Official Secrets Act and the contract law besides giving a wrong message that the Government was subservient to pressures.

Mr. Rao ruled out showing records, saying they were scrutinised at five different levels -- executive, superintending and chief engineers, the secretary, and the high-power committee -- before being accepted. "It's not one man's work." Every detail on estimates and excesses, including note files and rough papers, were subject to further scrutiny by the Pay & Accounts office and the Estimates and Public Accounts Committees of the Assembly. "If we show a paper, they will say it is forged. Where is the end?" he asks.

T. S. Prakash Rao, Commissioner (Projects), says pre-tender process was open to the public but the tender processing and post-tender evaluation were confidential under the contract law. By employing the EPC concept for tenders, the Government has saved Rs. 305 crores so far.

Meanwhile, all eyes are on the Janjhavathi project which is on the agenda for the next round of debate on Sunday. The project has been completed up to spillway level. The remaining works have been awarded to Siddhartha & Swapna Constructions, R. N. Shetty & Co for Rs. 20.79 crores and Rs. 36.6 crores respectively.

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