Srinagar: Finally, the tendering process for procuring DI (Ductile Iron) pipes worth 700 crore rupees by the PHE department of Jal Shakti in Jammu and Kashmir has been completed fairly. Kolkata-based Rashmi Metaliks Ltd has bagged the tender.
Earlier, a controversy about the tendering process erupted when the reports about alleged malpractice in the bidding process came to the fore.
Aftab Malik DDC Chairman expressed his satisfaction on the tendering process saying, “Authorities successfully stopped bid-rigging and cartel and saved the exchequer of 156 crores.”
He wrote on his tweeter handle, “A strict vigilance by few citizens and Department officials made it possible to happen. It is reported that similar efforts have been tried and are being tried with Jal Jeevan Mission Tenders in states of Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.”
Pertinently, a Srinagar court, after receiving a complaint about the issue had asked Crime Branch to investigate the matter.
However, sources say that in the case of J&K, following the court directions, authorities successfully prevented the alleged bid-rigging. They say a strict vigilance by some respectable citizens and officials of the department ensured a foolproof tendering process.
As many as eight companies — Jindal SAW Limited, Rashmi Metaliks Limited, Electrosteel Limited, Electrotherm (India) Limited, Tata Metaliks Limited, Jai Balaji Industries Limited, Wealth pump, and Kejriwal Industries Pvt Ltd — had participated in the tendering process. Of them, two companies, Wealth pump, and Kejriwal Industries Pvt Ltd were excluded from the tendering process at an early stage due to their technical failure in terms of not qualifying the bidding guidelines.
Rashmi Metaliks Ltd is one of the flagship companies of West Bangal-based Rashmi Group that defeated its traditional rival Jindal SAW Limited and others in the bidding.
When contacted Mr. Sudam Mitra, director of corporate affairs at Rashmi Metaliks Limited, said, “The rate we had given in the tender was at par while the rate of our opponents was 20% higher.”
Sudam added, “If the rate of our opposing party had been approved the concerned department would have had to pay approximately 156 crores of extra rupees. Since our company has its own resources, we keep the rate at par. Furthermore, our company is not indebted to any bank; we work independently and try to benefit every state. We want to have a healthy competition in which there can be no room for any kind of cartelization.”
The bidding process had become controversial after a citizen Gulam Qadir Mir approached a Srinagar court accusing rigging in the bidding process at Jal Jeevan Mission. The complainant alleged that Maneesh Kumar, Senior vice president (marketing) of the company has committed bid-rigging by impersonation as director of DISPUN Research and Development Association and through fraud and misrepresentation has attempted to compromise the entire bidding process in favor of his company. The complainant has also accused the Development Commissioner (works) UT level purchase Committee violating of the code of integrity of the tender in this matter. On the petition, court ordered an inquiry and asked Crime Branch to investigate the matter. Meanwhile, after the complaints of rigging, the department ensured fair tendering.
