Choudhry smells a rat in return of ‘banned’ pipes

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 18

Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Kiran Choudhry today demanded a Vigilance inquiry into two tenders floated by the Haryana State Industrial I Development Corporation for the “banned” AC pipes for supplying water to Manesar and Faridabad.

Addressing a press conference here today, Choudhry alleged that the whole matter reeked of an alleged scam since two committees, formed by the successive governments of the Congress and the BJP, had found these to be “unfit” for carrying drinking water supplies.

After the Khattar government took over the state, the Public Health Department floated tenders for the AC pipes which had been written off by the Congress. “However, after a hue and cry, the tenders were scrapped and the BJP government constituted another committee to study the AC pipes and DI pipes,” she said, adding that this committee, too, ruled in favour of the DI pipes.

Objecting to the tenders floated by the HSIIDC, Choudhry pointed out that the committee constituted by the BJP government had one member from the HSIIDC as well. “The committee gave an adverse report. However, that does not seem enough for the HSIIDC, which went right ahead and floated the tender for the same. One is a single tender because there is monopoly, while the other is to be opened next week,” she claimed.

Choudhry alleged that the fact that the HSIIDC had even floated the tender seemed fishy since there were two reports against the AC pipes. The HSIIDC conveniently overlooked the harmful health impact of the AC pipes and chose those over the DI pipes. I want a Vigilance inquiry into the matter and action against the officer under whose signature the tender was floated,” she demanded.