Jalukie, April 3 (MExN): The Peren District Contractors' Union (PDCU) while endorsing issues raised by the Nagaland Contractors & Suppliers Union (NCSU) in a recent representation to the Chief Minister has stated that corrupt practices in few Government departments in allotment of contract works need immediate corrective measures.
Such corrupt practices are “deeply rooted,” the PDCU stated in a press release
There is a Nagaland Government notification dated July 7, 2017 which stipulated that all Government Departments and agencies should call for open tenders for construction and civil works worth Rs 1 crore and above and supply works worth Rs 20 lakh and above through E-Procurement and Tendering System, it said.
The notification issued to enhance transparency, efficiency and shorter procurement cycle has been merely on paper and not implemented and enforced strictly, alleged the Union in the release issued by its General Secretary K Mark Guing and Advisor, K Francis Zeliang.
Rather the old manipulated practice of Table tender is still being rampantly practiced by government departments to favor few contractors and share the loot in total disregard to the quality of the developmental works on the ground, it claimed.
In addition, the open tendering system providing for mandatory publication of the Notice Inviting Tender (NIT) in the newspaper for any qualified firms to participate in the e-tendering is rarely seen being done by the government departments and agencies, it added.
If proper guidelines are not followed then there is no room for small contractors like us to qualify and even participate in the e-tendering system and take up contract works, the PDCU further stated.
It further alleged that there are instances of contractors, “emboldened by the illicit cooperation from the officials of the department,” carrying out works illegally without following any laid down guidelines and even without any work orders to start the works.
Yet their bills are cleared without any trouble, it maintained, citing them as a proof of government officials and few contractors are draining the State exchequer for their own personal benefit at the expense of the public.
The State Government should seriously look into these matters and swift and prompt action taken upon erring officials and also take appropriate action against the defaulting contractors, the PDCU suggested.
Given that road sector is the most important for overall development of any state, the Government should specifically enforce strict compliance of the laid down guidelines and the clauses in the Standard Bidding Documents (SBD) which are prepared as per the MORTH guidelines, it said.
If cases of irregular and illegal activities are detected, the Government should have no qualms of handing over such cases to the central investigating agencies for appropriate action, it added.
The Union further expressed optimism that the State Government would seriously look into the matter raised and take up measures to curb the illegal and corrupt practices so that our State would have all round development.
