“Terms and conditions of tender documents a mockery…and clear case of manipulation to shelter department syndicates and cronies”
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 24 (MExN): Crying foul, the Against Corruption And Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has demanded the Food and Civil Supply Department (F&CS) to immediately cancel and rectify the recently called Notice Inviting Tender (NIT).
ACAUT media cell, in a representation addressed to the Director, F&CS, apprehended that the department would tamper the tendering process in favour of individuals and syndicates who have been running the department as transporters and suppliers for the last 15-20 years without any proper open tendering process.
“The department despite knowing that entire racket of siphoning and pilferage of PDS for the poor have been done by these contractors yet the department has not taken any action rather their contract has been extended year after year in a fraudulent manner,” it alleged.
ACAUT also termed the terms and condition furnished in the Tender documents as a mockery and “one of its kind” never found in the national or Nagaland contract and supply tendering system “putting to shame all other corruptions.” Bringing comparison, ACAUT pointed out that for Nagaland as well as nationally, the Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) for contract and supply is fixed @1-2%, while the F&CS has fixed at Rs 25 lakh irrespective of contract value.
It also expressed surprise that the EMD for all the districts is fixed uniformly which was a clear case of manipulation to “shelter department syndicates and cronies who has been running the department de-facto for years.” Taking the case of Longleng and Zunheboto district, which has a supply of 1500MT and 4000MT respectively, ACAUT questioned how both could have the same EMD deposit of 25 lakh.
On security deposit to any contract works, nationally and in Nagaland, the security deposit is fixed @3-5%. However, ACAUT alleged that the department irrespective of contract value had fixed Rs 75 lakh uniformly for the whole district, which it pointed out, was a “clear case of the department trying to manipulate and tamper tendering process to favour syndicates and individuals.”
Further, taking the case of Longleng and Zunheboto, it revealed that both the district have the same security deposit of 75 lakh, despite the immense difference in the supply amount.
Presently, ACAUT said the majority of contractors have given power of attorney to the third party, which it asserted, “clearly proves that those firms and individuals are not capable of carrying out the contract awarded to them.”
“Despite that, the department has extended their contract year after year without transparent tendering process a clear case of corruption,” it alleged.
In this connection, ACAUT has demanded that the department immediately black list those firms and individuals from participating in any contract and supply work in the department. Further, those APL contractors running their contract under power of attorney should immediately be blacklisted and tender called though NIT for transport of APL, it added.
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