Telangana Congress smells multi-crore scam

Hyderabad, Feb 16 (INN): Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has alleged that the TRS Government has modified rules to allot tenders of Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme in favour of a few select companies so as to receive huge kickbacks.

In a media statement here on Tuesday, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that of Rs. 35,200 Crore worth works pertaining to the Palamuru Ranga Reddy Lift Irrigation Scheme, the State Government has invited tenders for works worth Rs. 29,200 crore in 18 packages. The last date for receipt of tenders is February 20. However, he said instead of inviting leading global and national companies to execute the works, the Irrigation Department has twisted the bidding rules in such a way that only a few selected companies would become eligible to bag the contract.

Citing instances, he said that the qualification criteria asked was not the execution of similar nature of works. But it was, "Execution of not more than two projects within the present bid period with the combined executed value of such projects in any one financial years being 10% ECV of present bid." Further, very peculiarly capacity of reservoirs along with height and width of earthen bund is asked in order to qualify for similar works category.

"Generally for all tenders we have observed that only Earth Work Embankment quantity is asked. Whereas, in these tenders the dimensions and quantities are strangely specified. It will not allow many eligible contractors to participate in the bidding thus creating a Monopolistic environment. In Telangana Water Grid Tenders, one work of similar nature was asked. Whereas, in these Irrigation tenders you had specially asked for two works. What is the reason?" asked Uttam Kumar Reddy.

The TPCC chief said that many small workers were combined into gigantic packages with exorbitantly high contract value only to keep many eligible contractors away from participating in bidding process. Further, having registration with the Government of Telangana/erstwhile Andhra Pradesh is one of the condition to participate in bidding process. "This would not allow national/international bidding which is very essential for big projects to attract serious competitive bids. Such biased clauses incorporated in these tenders are giving rise to suspicion that these tenders are customised to favour "few favourte companies."

Uttam Kumar Reddy said only a few companies like L&T, KNR, Mega and Raghava Constructions would be eligible to participate in the bidding process while many reputed companies like Jaya Prakash, STW and IVRCL and other national and international companies would be automatically become ineligible due to modified rules. "It appears that the TRS Government is executing this project not for irrigation or drinking water purpose, but only to receive huge kickbacks from some favorite companies. Instead of maintaining transparency, the State Government has shut down the website on GOs to restrict people from learning the truth about its irregularities," he said.

The Congress leader demanded that the State Government call for fresh tenders in a transparent manner while inviting bids from all global and national companies.