Govt buys DI pipes before drilling tunnel
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, October 25 2015 : The Government of Manipur bought Ductile Iron (DI) Pipes for supplying water from Thoubal Dam to Imphal City area even before the completion of drilling tunnels from the dam sites.

It has also been alleged that the DI pipes were bought above the market price.

According to reliable sources, e-tender was floated in June, 2014 for procuring the DI Pipes (K-9).Three companies namely Jindal Saw Ltd, Electro-steel Castings Ltd and Lanco Industries Ltd were the bidders.

Out of the three, two companies were selected and both agreed to buy the pipes at same price quoted.

Govt buys DI pipes before drilling tunnel

The total length of the pipes required from Thoubal Dam (Mapithel Dam) to Imphal is 16,400 meter.

It was agreed to buy the pipes at Rs 36,325 per meter from both the companies.

However according to sources, the market price of the pipe was Rs 24,688 per meter as on June 25, 2014, the time when the e-tender was floated.

Due to the negligence of the authorities, it was agreed to buy the pipes above market prices with a difference of around Rs 13,545 per meter.

If the actual market price of the pipe was Rs 24,688 per meter, the total amount of the 16,400 meter long pipes comes at around Rs 40.48 crore.

The Government bought the 16,400 meter long pipes at Rs 36,325 per meter.

This means around Rs 19 crore has been wasted by the State Government.

After the tender was floated, the DI pipes reached Imphal and the department also received them on time.

However, it has been learnt that the tunnels under which these pipes will be laid have not yet been drilled.

Sources said the work for drilling of the tunnel from Thoubal Dam to Imphal has been allotted to one MS Coastal Project Ltd.

The company is taking major role in the railway line drilling process of Jiribam to Tupul.

Higher authorities of the company had recently visited and inspected the work site but machines and manpower for starting the work are yet to arrive.

Meanwhile, Chief Engineer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department (IFCD) could not be reached when this daily wanted to inquire about the buying of the pipes above the market prices.

It may be mentioned that IFCD has been planning to bring water from Thoubal Multipurpose Project to Imphal and provide it to the consumers of Imphal and Greater Imphal areas after installing water meters.