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BBMP excempted from calling for tenders for storm water works

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Rithesh - 5 November, 2008 | Bangalore | BBMP | Media Reports | Civil Works | sewerage


In a surprising development BBMP has been exempted from calling tenders for Storm Water Drain projects. A total of around 32 crores will be spent on these projects.

The reason being given is, to speed up work. The storm water drain project is dragging on for a few years now. But was the tendering process the delay for this? Certainly not - it was poor planing and execution. I have been following a few storm water drains in the Hebbal Valley region - the work is painstakingly slow and not up to the mark.

With the way the BBMP has been working - this move will certainly lead to more corruption and kick backs and more poor quality work.

Read the full article here - http://www.hindu.com/2008/11/03/stories/2008110357420300.htm

COMMENTS

If tender process is a bottleneck

silkboard - 5 November, 2008 - 11:29

If tender process is a bottleneck, which it very well could be (see the other example of Outer Ring Road upgrade project, govt is doing almost the same there too) then why not amend the Transparency Act itself?

Amendments could be on the lines of

  • Use cost estimates from last tendered work of comparable size and nature.
  • If you bypass transparency in tender process, then you would have stricter norms for billing/auditing and quality certification of project. Examples of above: each bill must be checked against market rate, or, residents of area most impacted by or closest to the site of public work should certify on quality before final settlements are done.

These things (rush to execute) could be sign of good things as well as bad. The good - obvious - govt is keen for quick action and results. the bad - 1) there could be corruption under the hood (but then, it always is, tendering or not) 2) Rushed projects may not undergo enough scrutiy. Outer Ring Road project is likely to suffer from this.

More ammo for a PIL

Naveen - 6 November, 2008 - 08:27

Perhaps this also needs to be included with the PIL, if & when we lodge one. The Transparency Act MUST BE followed even if it delays projects, period.

Unless there are some exceptional circumstances, such as imminent heavy rains or emegencies, the tendering process, as stipulated is the only way that contracts can be awarded.

If, due to exceptional circumstances, contracts are given without following due process, then details of such awards must also be posted on the relevant web page of the concerned authority.

Public servants are as the term goes, "Public". They are paid by the state's monies & each citizen must be empowered to scrutinize these documents on demand & not necessarily through RTI, which is being used as a shield for cover ups by many.

Please advise comments, if we need to push a PIL inclusive of this, thanks.

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