?Scrap uploading tenders on website?

CONTRARY TO all big talks of transparency in governance, Congress and BJP corporators today displayed a rare show of unity in opposing publishing tenders on Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) website.

During the BMC council meeting, the BJP and Congress corporators today said developmental works’ tenders should not be uploaded on the BMC website. All pleas of Mayor Sunil Sood about the transparency in work allotment were in vain.

The BMC administration had begun uploading tender advertisement on the website during the past 3-4 months. The new arrangement works to the advantage of the corporation. The lower rates offered by contractors cost less to the corporation thus proving financially beneficial to the corporation.

But corporators could not manage to get the work allotted to their favourite contractors in this arrangement. BJP corporator Asharam Sharma broached the issue saying many developmental works were pending for the past several months. Another BJP corporator Pappu Vilas went to the extent of blaming the delay on publishing tenders on BMC website. His line of argument, contractors after winning contracts at lower rates sit on it rather than quickly executing works.

This over, all corporators cutting across party line, stood up and demanded that the tenders should not be published on the website. However, the Mayor pleaded that legality of this matter should be considered before any decision.

Leader of BJP corporators Ashok Pandey even threatened to disrupt the meeting if the decision to do away with this arrangement was not taken. Some corporators alleged that the BMC administration suspected their intentions and this explained uploading the tenders on the website.

Even as BMC chairman Ramdayal Prajapati directed the commissioner to take decision according to Public Works Department manual, corporators resorted to shouting in favour of their demand.

Sood vainly suggested arrangement for funds could be made for the emergency work. However, Prajapati stuck to his earlier ruling.

First Published: Apr 30, 2006 14:20 IST