CAG report raps Works, Water Resource & MI Depts
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, April 05 2022: Public Works Department (PWD), Water Resource Department and Minor Irrigation Department of government of Manipur flouted prescribed rules while floating the tenders for 39 divisions of the departments totalling Rs 750.78 crore, from 2017 to 2019, said a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) .

According to the report which was presented in the Manipur Legislative Assembly on March 25, the tenders for 895 projects/works under 39 divisions of Works, Water Resource and Minor Irrigation departments during the period from 2017 to 2019, were conducted in an improper manner.

The total funds utilised for the projects amounted to Rs 750.78 crore.

As per the rules, the tenders were supposed to be floated through open, global or e-tender system.

However, only a few select contractors took part in the tenders although around 639 contractors are registered in the state.

The CAG report further pointed out that the state cabinet gave its approval for a restricted tender to be held for the majority of the cases.

However, no supporting documents for the tenders conducted by the divisions could be found.

Documents highlighting the past performances of the invited contractors, their reliability and resourcefulness also could not be traced.

The Government of Manipur follows the General Financial Rule (GRF), 2017 and Central Public Department Works Manual, 2014.According to these, any work/project costing between Rs 5 lakh to 30 lakh will be up for open tender.

The NIT should then inform the public, by publishing the same in the newspapers.

It may be noted that a restricted tender is held when the work/ project is to be carried out in the shortest time possible and also when the majority of the contractors are unable to take up the project.

No public announcement is required in this regard and a small number of pre-qualified contractors should be fixed for the same.

If the restricted tender is conducted, the chief engineer should then prepare a list of contractors who can take up the work/project.

If the work/project costs over Rs 1 crore, the Finance Department should be informed beforehand, only after which the e-tender could be conducted.

If the aforementioned rules are not followed, the official concerned is liable for punishment under Manipur Public Servant Liabilities Act, 2006.However, brushing aside all of the above, the 39 divisions of Public Works, Water Resource and Minor Irrigation Departments flouted the rules for the 895 works/projects during 2017-2019, the report conveyed.

The restricted tenders conducted by the three departments from 2017-2019 include 107 works/projects costing Rs 207.16 crore under the building division of Works department, 427 works/projects costing Rs 450.76 crore under the Road and Bridge Division, and 35 works/ projects costing Rs 25.39 crore under the Electrical division; while 317 works/projects costing Rs 31.39 crore were under Water resource department, and 9 works/projects costing Rs 6.08 crore for Minor Irrigation Department.

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