The New Indian Express 18.02.2010
Streetlight tenders: Contractors find fault
THE Karnataka PWD Electrical Contractors Association on Wednesday lodged a complaint with the Lokayukta against BBMP commissioner Bharat Lal Meena, accusing him of favouring a particular company while issuing a tender for operation and maintenance of streetlights.
The association members brought out a few glaring violations and conditions saying Meena was favouring a particular company as most of the conditions in the tender document were purely favouring the bidding company with little benefit to BBMP.
KN Sundar Raju, president of the association, told Express the tender had been issued in gross violation of the Karnataka Transparency and Public Procurement Act and Rules.
The minimum duration for short-term tender notifications had not been adhered to and BBMP had intentionally not called for a global tender using e-tendering or e-procurement process.
The tender document also highlighted high-level technical flaws. Though the project is on build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) basis, the document had not sought any lifespan guarantee for energy efficient mechanism devices or the software from the bidding company. No analysis had been done regarding the number of newly-added street lighting fixtures during the contract period.
The complaint copy also mentions that BBMP would provide all the facilities to the bidding company. On the whole, the project lacked vision and was unscientific and unjustified. The entire tender document was such that it benefited the bidder more than BBMP, Raju alleged.
The Lokayukta has promised to look into the matter, he added.
