No new tenders as poll code comes into effect

With the issuance of the election notification for the civic body polls, the release of new tenders for development works have been put on hold in the city. The authorities concerned will now have to wait for the model code of conduct (MCC) to end before initiating new projects, although ongoing works, which were sanctioned prior to the announcement of the polls, are permitted to continue.

Municipal Corporation Faridabad (MCF) officials will have to wait for the culmination of the MCC to release work orders for around 200 tenders, worth nearly Rs 150 crore, that were due to be floated this month, revealed sources in the MC. These tenders were related to the maintenance or construction of civic infrastructure, including the laying of interlocking tiles, constructing drains, repairing roads and sewage networks, constructing parks, fixing streetlights etc in wards, comprising colonies that were regularised last year. Though tenders for many of these projects were released last year, work could not be taken up on several projects because of recalls due to technical factors, claimed the sources. “Work orders worth nearly Rs 7 crore have been held up in the Ballabgarh zone in the wake of the elections,’’ said an official, on the condition of anonymity. These include the laying of RMC roads and interlocking tiles in as many as 20 residential colonies of the zone, it is believed. Several work orders that were to be allotted in the zones of Old Faridabad and the NIT have also gone on hold till the culmination of the MCC.

Meanwhile, as the process of filing nominations by the candidates for a total of 46 wards and the post of mayor has begun, poor waste collection and disposal, choked sewers, broken roads, blocked drains, garbage dumps and poor cleanliness are among the issues that are likely to dominate the campaign.

“With the population and the area under the civic limits rising considerably in the recent years and the number of civic wards going from 40 to 46, civic issues have also risen sharply over the years due to the non-existence of an elected body and the lack of proper direction within the existing system,’’ said Vishnu Goel, a resident.

Birender Kardam, Chief Engineer, MCF, said while the issuance of new work tenders has been put on hold due to the election process, work on ongoing development works would on, as usual.