Anomalies in tender process?
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 25 2014 :
A serious allegation has been raised that some officials have been scheming to give contract to unqualified M/S Philips and M/S Sanmati Traders (Manoj Patni) for supplying solar street lamps which would be installed in all the 60 Assembly segments of Manipur under Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission.
Sources said that the tender process for selection of supply agencies is not in line with the MANIREDA guidelines.
It is said that altogether 1400 solar street lamps of 45 Watt would be installed in urban areas and 6900 solar lamps of 9 Watt in rural areas.
Five companies based outside the State applied for the tender held in October last year.
Even though tender should be held only once, the same tender was held four times after modifying the terms and conditions repeatedly.
Now, authorities are conniving to give the contract to M/S Philips and M/S Sanmati Traders which did not qualify in the tender bid.
Keeping away four firms which possess testing reports of approval given by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, the au- thorities are working to give the supply contract to M/S Philips and M/S Sanmati Traders which possess testing reports only approved by Gurgaon based SEC (testing centre) .
Even though many firms have expressed their distrust in Gurgaon testing firm and sought other testing firms, MANIREDA has been paying little attention.
Moreover, a complaint has been already submitted to the Chief Minister who is MANIREDA Chairman, the Chief Secretary and the Finance Commissioner but no response is forthcoming.
A similar complaint has been submitted to the Vigilance Commission but to no avail.