No neglect of Imphal-Jiribam Road: Thoiba
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 11 2014: Reacting to the statement of Manipur Truck Owners' Welfare Association (MTOWA) which came out in the media, the Deputy General manager of Food Corporation of India Ksh.

Thoiba Singh said FCI has never neglected the national highway 37 (Imphal- Jiri highway) and it will endeavour to ensure sufficient availability of rice in the state.

Talking to reporters at the FCI Regional Office at the old Assembly Secretariat here on Wednesday, Thoiba said 'it is unfortunate that President of MTOWA Th.Ranjit wrongly informed the media regarding the security deposit for transportation of rice on Imphal-Jiribam Road.

Saying that the FCI staff and the security convoy have been working even on holidays to ensure timely transportation of rice from Jiribam to Imphal, the Deputy General Manager pointed out while reminding that the trucks readily left Imphal for Jiribam after unloading the rice.

The Corporation has been ferrying essential food items from Jiribam, Furkating, Golaghat, Jagiroad and Dimapur, he said and added that following the expiry of the contract period for the transporter on May 5 last, the FCI invited tenders for another six months with a notice issued on April 26 well ahead of the end of contract period.

MTOWA became the lowest bidder in the limited tender with Rs.13.98 per mt /km for this region which limits the financial power to Rs.50 lakhs, said Thoiba.

As the financial power of the region was insufficient to meet even a trip of a convoy, the DGM of FCI requested the Guwahati Zonal Office to upgrade it Rs.10 crore, Thoiba recounted.

Saying that the E-tender submitted by the MTOWA and the Northern Agancy was opened on May 19 last, Thoiba disclosed that Northern Agency was rejected for lack of documents and FCI gave acceptance letter to MTOWA on June 30 last.

Meanwhile, MTOWA field a case to the court against allowing participation of the Northern Agency in the tender, but the High Court rejected the petition, he said.

Saying that the MTOWA had to deposit Rs.66,44,614/- ( 5 percent of the contract value) as security deposit, Thoiba pointed out that the firm did not pay the full payment and it also failed to deposit the 15% of the Bank Guarantee Bond.

The MTOWA, which quoted the lower rate of Rs.15.37 per mt/km, is apparently trying to transport at the old higher rate of Rs.18.98, alleged the FCI GDM while expressing surprise at the intention of the firm which has even got the acceptance letter.

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