The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Protest against decision to re-tender KWA work

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Protest against decision to re-tender KWA work

Renu Ramanath

Government urged to review decision

KOCHI: The decision of the Kerala Water Authority (KWA) to cancel the tender that has been given to the FACT Engineering Works (FEW) for the pipe-laying work as part of the Ad Hoc Water Supply Augmentation Scheme (HUDCO Scheme) has drawn flak.

The Jaladhara Jala-Saksharatha Mission, a voluntary organisation working in the field of spreading water literacy, has come out with a request to the new Left Democratic Front Government to re-examine the KWA's decision.

The KWA has decided to cancel the contract given to FEW for laying 5,955 metres of pipeline from Kathrikkadavu to Konthuruthy for the HUDCO Scheme. It has also decided to re-issue the tender. The issue was that the FEW had asked the KWA for a hike in the quoted amount, citing delay in the work.

The Jaladhara executive director C.A. Vijayachandran, a former employee of the KWA, said that the move to re-tender the contract would only cause more delay for the drinking water to reach West Kochi and that it would cause more liabilities for the authority.

He pointed out that the contract was given for laying pipes to take water from Kathrikkadavu to the Tank at Elamkulam, from where it would be carried to the sump at Palluruthy, as part of the HUDCO scheme. The construction of the tanks at Elamkulam and Palluruthy had already been completed. Other works, including laying the pipes for 1,735 metres from Samskara Junction at Thammanam to Kathrikkadavu, which came under the first phase of the work, and the laying of pipes for 4,280 metres from Thevara Bridge to Palluruthy tank, which was part of the fourth phase, had been completed on time by the FEW, he pointed out.

The second and third phases of the work including the laying of popes from Kathrikkadavu to Elamkulam tank and from Elamkulam to Konthuruthy Ferry was also given to the FEW. But these contracts were cancelled by the KWA, citing that the FEW had sought a hike.

Though the contract signed by the FEW had specified that the works were to be completed by July 2002 and January 2003, the work could not be started as the land could not be handed over for laying the pipes. The KWA pointed out that the cause was the delay in getting permission to lay pipes along the roads, which are in the control of the Greater Cochin Development Authority and Kochi Corporation.

As the work could not begin on time, the FEW had demanded that the KWA increase the contract amount.

The Mission has pointed out that instead of cancelling the contract outright, the KWA could have solved the issue through negotiations, giving the work to the FEW, which has a track-record of having successfully completed works earlier on time.

The mission has requested the Government that a comprehensive inquiry be ordered into the issue and that the work be entrusted with the FEW.

Mr. Vijayachandran said the factors including the fact that the FEW is a public sector unit and that the company has earlier proved its technical credentials in executing works of this nature should be considered before re-tendering the contract.

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