The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Tirupati News : Row over tenders for flower supply at Tirumala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 29, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Tirupati

Row over tenders for flower supply at Tirumala

Special Correspondent

TIRUPATI: The finalisation of tenders for the supply of flowers to meet the daily needs of the Tirumala temple for the next year has entered a rough patch following a reported hitch between the TTD's Gardens Department and a tenderer. TTD, which procures tonnes of flowers of different hues and fragrance for use mostly in the hill temple, calls for annual tenders.

Controversy erupted when the tender for the current year was opened on Thursday evening with the official concerned reportedly rejecting the tender document of one Sekhar on the pretext that it was delivered at 3.02 p.m. -- two minutes after the scheduled time for closure of the tenders. Sekhar claimed that he has been the regular supplier of flowers to the TTD for the last six years -- all because of the `highly nominal' price he has been quoting for his supplies. Despite this his tender for the current year was not accepted and allegedly returned to him by the Gardens Department officials around 4.30 PM citing `late receipt' as the reason.

At a press conference later Sekhar expressed suspicion of foul play and said he had already taken the matter to the notice of the Executive Officer, A.P.V. Narayana Sarma, to seek his intervention. The controversy is expected to assume a legal dimension also as he said he was contemplating to move the court.

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Row over tenders for flower supply at Tirumala