PWD engineers playing favourites?

A SECTION of Public Works Department engineers, in alleged collusion with some politicians, are allegedly committing grave irregularities in executing tenders. Some contractors said a few politicians and officials were ensuring that contracts were awarded to their men.

A SECTION of Public Works Department engineers, in alleged collusion with some politicians, are allegedly committing grave irregularities in executing tenders.

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Some contractors said a few politicians and officials were ensuring that contracts were awarded to their men.

Despite being in the A category, bona fide contractors are finding it difficult to qualify for tenders.

They alleged tenders forms were being sold to only those carrying slips issued by politicians or the engineers. The rest of the contractors were being denied tender forms, it was alleged.

When this situation unfolded once again at the PWD office near the Collectorate on Thursday, a group of contractors made a hue and cry over the issue. The protest resulted in these contractors getting the tender forms for various projects worth around Rs 40 crore in the Karchana and Bara assembly areas of the district. However, the engineer concerned postponed the tender date without announcing a fresh one.

The contractors alleged this would help officials in fixing a fresh date without giving any notice in newspapers.