Cancel Rs 70-crore tenders floated by Amritsar Municipal Corporation: Congress councillors to CM
In a letter written to the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary, Congress councillors in the Municipal Corporation (MC) have demanded cancellation of tenders scheduled to be opened on February 27, while reasoning that these were issued to benefit big contractors.
Earlier, the MC had issued a tender of Rs 21.48 crore for various works in North and East constituencies and another tender of Rs 49.40 crore for the construction of roads and widening in Central, South and West constituencies.
Vikas Soni, councillor and leader of the Congress said, “The MC has empanelled at least 150 contractors for works upto Rs 1 crore, five contractors for works upto Rs 15 crore and only two contractors for work above Rs 15 crore. By issuing big tenders, the MC has ended the competition which will benefit big contractors.”
Soni further alleged that the only job of elected councillors was to list the necessities of their respective wards and seek funds for the same. Now, when the MC Commissioner had already issued constituency wise tenders, it would further increase disparity in development of different areas, said Soni.
The Congress leader said contractors, who were eligible to apply for tenders with small amounts, too had been affected. “Not only councillors, the public and contractors have also been affected. Even the government will suffer losses as there is no competition among contractors,” Soni said, while adding that the government should cancel previously issued tenders. He said fresh tenders should be floated to improve chances of better development in the city.
