Contract to PSUs peeves AMCAFM
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 30 2024: Award of works for projects and schemes to Public Sector Undertakings has miffed the contractors.

At Manipur Press Club today, All Manipur Contractors' Association Forum, Manipur (AMCAFM) convenor Thangjam Somorendro said the contractors have been ignored and treated unfairly by the Public Works Department (PWD) and the Rural Engineering Department (RED) .

While the works were earlier given to registered contractors, it has been given to Public Sector Undertakings and other agencies.

"This has affected the contractors and the economy of the State, and slowed down the development work," he said.

There are around 568 contractors registered with the PWD categorised as Special class, 1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class and 4th class.

The PWD collects registration fees of Rs 5 lakh, Rs 3 lakh, Rs 1.50 lakh, Rs 75,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively from the Special class, 1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class and 4th class respectively.

While the PWD has collected these fees from contractors, works have not been given to them, he said.

For example, he said the work for repairing Thong Nambonbi has been given to the Health and Family Welfare Department.

The road work for Thangal Keithel has been given to MPHC Ltd, and other works have been given to MOBEDS, MANIREDA, MTDC, MIDA and PDA etc, he said, claiming these awards of works are not in agreement with the CPWD Rules.

He further claimed that the release of money through the firm/agency, instead directly to contractors, is a reason for costing more money.

The money was earlier released to contractors as general CDA (Cheque Drawal Authority), he said.

Further, the total length of the National Highways in Manipur is 1723.59 kilometres, and State's PWD was responsible for 310.64 kilometres of the NHs.

Giving away the 310.64 kilometres of the NHs to the NHIDCL as per a Gazette published on July 3, 2020 is a gross mistake of the PWD, said Somorendro.

He said around 264 works related to PMGSY undertaken under the central Government are pending without completion.

He claimed that "the contractors are able to utilise only about 58 percent of the money on actual work due to several taxes and labour charges, percentages for Ministers, officials and unknown persons" .

This is the reason for people seeing the contractors in the wrong light, he added.

Urging the Government to avoid awarding works to PSUs, Somorendro urged the ruling and Opposition to discuss the issues contractors are facing in the Assembly and take a resolution.

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