Shiv Sena wants to scrap e-tendering of contracts

Municipal councillors of the civic general body on Friday demanded that e-tendering be scrapped altogether and the previous civil work contract (CWC) system be brought back.

While various governments are increasingly shifting to e-tendering to bring transparency in the contract-awarding process, the Shiv Sena which is the ruling party in the civic body, wants to oust it from India’s richest civic body.

Shiv Sena wants to scrap e-tendering of contracts. (HT File)

Municipal councillors of the civic general body on Friday demanded that e-tendering be scrapped altogether and the previous civil work contract (CWC) system be brought back.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) House of elected representatives on Friday passed a Shiv Sena councillor’s notice of motion to scrap the e-tendering system.

The demand will be considered by civic chief Ajoy Mehta. Sena councillor Mangesh Satamkar, who made the demand, said, “E-tendering is too long and complicated whereas CWC was faster because councillors could propose a contract in the standing committee, the most powerful statutory body, directly. We need a change in the current system of assigning contracts as there are too many contractors in each ward now. A 50:50 ratio in the systems would also be better.”

The e-tendering system was introduced by civic chief Sitaram Kunte in 2012. In 2014, a scam was detected in e-tendering following which nine civic officials were suspended. Opposing the demand, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors said e-tendering ensures more transparency as all documents are online. Rais Shaikh, leader of Samajwadi Party, said, “The ruling party only wants to allow favoured contractors to come in through the CWC.” Corporators across party lines have been demanding that CWC system be allowed.