Karnataka - Gulbarga   

Corporation officials accused of violating norms in awarding contracts

GULBARGA: Janata Dal (U) working president Raju Kulageri on Tuesday accused officials of the Gulbarga City Corporation of violating norms in awarding work contracts.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Kulageri said that the corporation had divided schemes worth Rs. 9.5 crore into 32 packages and invited tenders in August this year, with September 29 as the last date for submitting tender forms. However, officials, in violation of norms, divided schemes worth more than Rs. 2 crore into three packages, whereas only one tender application had been received. Rules stipulated that if less than two tender applications were received, the entire process should be cancelled and a tender floated again.

Mr. Kulageri said that in violation of this rule, the corporation officials had awarded the work to a single contractor and also issued orders. The corporation had invited tenders for schemes to be taken up with funds sanctioned by the State Government this year. The schemes included laying of roads, construction of storm water drains and improvement of existing roads. Mr. Kulageri urged Deputy Commissioner Pankajkumar Pandey, who is also the administrator of the city corporation, to cancel the contract and order reissue of tenders.

He also demanded that disciplinary action be initiated against Corporation Commissioner Nagappa Sirasagi and senior officials, including engineers of the corporation, for violating norms.

Mr. Kulageri pointed out that schemes that were earlier inspected by a third party, were being taken up by the city corporation afresh.

Although he was not opposed to fresh schemes, he claimed that if a fresh inquiry was ordered by the Government or the Lok Ayukta, there would be no evidence left.

Mr. Kulageri alleged that the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Information Department had released tender notices for certain works to newspapers which had a low circulation, so that many contractors would not come to know of it. This would enable them to allot the work to contractors of their choice, he said.

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