ATSUM demands
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, June 14 2014 :
Reacting to the clarification made by the Chief MSRRDA on June 11 pertaining to e-tender of PMGSY phase IX, ATSUM has demanded the Government of Manipur to declare the same e-tender null and void and hold a new one.
Speaking to media persona at their Nagaram office today, ATSUM information and publicity secretary Micah Kamei said that Manipur State is bound to follow the Standard Bidding Documents (SBD) prescribed by the NRRDA for all tenders and hence adopting a separate SBD other than the guidelines prescribed by the NRRDA is a sheer violation.
"If quoting of very low (minus) bid amount by the contractors is not within the control of MSRRDA, is it the NRRDA that permits the bids at minus rate?" Micah questioned.
If the SBD under NRRDA allows bidding at minus rate, the three tier system of quality control mechanism for PMGSY works is bogus, he asserted.
Saying that quoting at minus rate was introduced from phase VIII with the coming of the incumbent Chief Engineer, Micah decried that execution of PMGSY works is virtually impossible if takes into consideration all the legal and illegal taxes which amounts to almost 54.59 per cent even if quality control mechanism is put into place.
Whatever the case may be, executing PMGSY works at minus rate would not be allowed in the hill areas.
If the existing system of executing PMGSY works continues, rural connectivity in hill areas would remain a far fetched dream and it defeats the very objective of the flagship programme.
He urged the Government to nullify the e-tender held for PMGSY phase IX and hold a fresh tender.