Contractors holding PWD hostage

MLAs propose altertive system to allot works

BY OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, March 25: Almost all MLAs, including the Speaker, on Wednesday expressed their grave concern over the selection of contractors for projects of the PWD. The MLAs said the selection of contractors by the PWD on the basis of lower bids has compromised the department’s work quality.

During the question hour in the ongoing budget session of the State Assembly, MLAs said most of the time the contractors quote low rates than the estimated cost of a project and easily mage to get work order from the department. Later, on many occasions, these contractors abandon their works midway or compromise with the work quality, the MLAs said.

They also requested the government to replace the existing system of allotting work order to a lower bidder with an altertive one.

In her reply, PWD Minister Ajanta Neog clarified: “We are helpless in this regard. As per the Central Vigilance Commission guidelines, work order must be allotted to a lower bidder. We must follow the Commission guidelines.”

MLAs said the contractors, who quote low rates than the estimated cost mentioned in tenders, later give up the work or compromise with its quality, as they have other expenditures to be met during the execution of the project.

Giving his opinion on the issue, Speaker Prab Kumar Gogoi said, “Instances of contractors abandoning their works midway have taken place in my constituency too. Many contractors mage to get work order from the department concerned by quoting low rates. So, the time has come to find an altertive system.”

Few days ago on the issue, Speaker Gogoi in the Assembly said that selection of contractors should be done by taking their previous work records into consideration.

The PWD Minister, in her reply, said, “As I told earlier, we have to follow the Central Vigilance Commission guidelines. In many cases earlier, we have checked the lower bidders’ previous work performance and not accepted them. It is not possible to deny lower bidders all the time, as they may move court against the department. But still, we will give a second thought on the Speaker’s advice.”