Aurangabad, Nov 22:
A new building for district consumer redressal forum and state consumer grievance redressal circuit bench will be constructed at the cost of Rs 7.19 crore in the land adjacent to government milk scheme on Jalna road. Ten tenders have been received for this work.
However, only 4 out of 10 tenders were opened, raising doubts over the process. The contractors have demanded an inquiry into the matter at the senior level.
The Public Works Department (PWD) invited tenders for the work after the lockdown. All the tenders were found eligible. However, due to political pressure, the department finalized a tender without opening other tenders. The tender of Hitech Infra was approved at a reduced rate of only 1.10 per cent. However, to date, tenders have been approved at a reduced rate of 10 to 15 per cent. On September 1, 2020, 10 contractors submitted tenders for this work.
The department rejected the tenders, citing the absence of contractors during the online tenders opening process. Later the officials informed that the tenders were found ineligible. As per government resolution 2018, it is mandatory to open all tenders, however, in defiance of that ordinance, the tender of Hitech Infra was approved.
According to sources, many tenders had around 10 per cent margin than the actual rate. The government would have saved at least Rs 70 lakh to 1 crore. The contractors have demanded that all the 10 tenders should be opened and an investigation must be done in the matter. PWD chief engineer D D Ukirde said that the superintendent engineer had taken the decision.
All formalities of the opening of the tender have been followed. Accordingly, they have opened tenders. After approval, they come under my jurisdiction. The matter will be investigated after that.