July 22: Chennai Metro Water had awarded the multi-crore CCRCP (Chennai City River Conservation Project) works to contractors allegedly in gross violation of rules.

Documents accessed by Deccan Chronicle revealed that though the contract was awarded to Malaysia-based CIPTA, the water board had dealt with city-based B Engineers and Builders Ltd till the completion of the project in 2006 though its connection with the contractor was never properly clarified.

Sources said there were doubts that B Engineers and Builders only used CIPTA’s name to win the contract and the two firms were not related to each other.

Data posted the water board’s website state that the Rs 20.19 crore “capacity expansion of interceptor system in North Mylapore and ice house pumping main and gravity sewers” under CCRCP package II was awarded to Malaysia based CIPTA WAWA SAN MAJV Engineering SDN BHD way back in 2000.

Meanwhile, documents available with Deccan Chronicle, and those sourced through RTI petitions revealed that B Engineers had furnished bank guarantee on behalf of the firm from the State Bank of India, Bhubaneswar. Though it is mandatory for CIPTA to give power of attorney to B Engineers to transact on its behalf, the whole issue is shrouded in mystery in this case.

The letter pad submitted by B Engineers did not even have proper address or other contact details and the local address submitted for the Malaysian firm was also suspicious.

Meanwhile, the linking of the North and South Mylapore pumping stations, a component of project, remains incomplete till date.