Akshay Azad
Jammu, March 6: Aiming to bring transparency in allotment of tenders for various construction works, the State Government had introduced e-tendering in Public Works Department (PWD), but it seems that e-tendering has not gone well with Government, forcing it to make Jammu and Kashmir Project Construction Corporation (JKPCC) as sole contender for executing the works costing over Rs 7 Crores.
On February 18, State Government passed an order number 47-PW(R&B) of 2013, stating that all the civil works costing more than Rs 7 Crores shall be allotted to JKPCC, in respect of all Government departments and Government Corporations. The order further stated that in case the JKPCC were not in a position to take up works for any reason, the PWD will have the works executed by following all codal formalities.
An official in Civil Secretariat, seeking anonymity said that at one hand JKPCC was notorious for delay in execution of various prestigious works, often resulted into cost escalation, but instead of streamlining the working of JKPCC, the Government has been giving unbridled powers to them.
All the contractors or construction agencies have been barred from tendering process, in-spite of past record of JKPCC's dismal performance in most of executed works.
Sources informed Early Time Plus that the State Government had introduced e-tendering in Public Works Department in November, 2011, following which to some extent transparency had started coming in the process while the cost of projects had also declined, but surprisingly the JKPCC was not getting any tender, owing to their higher bids given in all tenders.
"Though the JKPCC is headed by a Government official and same is considered a 'money minting machine' of several Ministers, but the e-tendering had handcuffed JKPCC, reducing earning of Ministers, which compelled Government to pass an order," sources said.
"The Higher Education department had recently invited tenders for construction of some college buildings. The JKPCC had proposed for construction to the tune of more than Rs 20 Crores, but other contractors/ construction companies had purposed only Rs 8 to 12 Crores, due to which JKPCC was out in all the tenders, forcing Government to pass an order for making JKPCC alive," he said.
He further added that J&K Police Housing Corporation, JK Housing Board and SICOP were also the State agencies, executing construction works and have proved their ability and efficiency in works but Government ignored them. |
