Dimapur, May 12 : Nagaland Voluntary Consumers’ Organisation (NVCO) has demanded open tender in awarding works to contractors to ensure quality works particularly roads in the state of Nagaland.
In this regard, the NVCO asked the State government particularly the office of Chief Engineer PWD(R&B) and National Highways to strictly follow the tender norms as per the NPWD Code and CPWD Code and get rid of table tender which is in total violation of all ethics of technicality.
In order to ensure good quality in roads, NVCO said the State government has to strictly follow the Rules 2006 for Registration of Contractor whereby it provides that the registered contractors shall execute and exercise within the powers and in accordance with the provisions of this Rules and Identity Card would be issued to all government registered contractors and the works will be awarded in accordance with standing guidelines through open tender.
Press & Media Cell, NVCO stated, “The tenders will be issued to the registered contractors only. Section 18 of the CPWD Code under the caption – ‘Publicity of Tenders’. 18.1.1 Tenders must be invited the most open and public possible, whether by advertisement in the Press or by notice in English/Hindi and the written language of the district, pasted in public places. Wide publicity should, therefore, be given to the Notice Inviting Tenders. A copy of the notice should be sent to the CPWD Divisions, Zonal Office, the Circle Office, Local Municipalities and Collector’s Office and the State PWD Divisions operating at the station of the work and headquarters of the Divisional Office.
18.1.2 In respect of works estimated to more than Rs.2 lakhs, a brief advertisement inviting tenders should invariably be inserted in the Press. Section 291 of the Public Works Department Code, Govt. of Nagaland under the caption – ‘Calling and acceptance of Tenders’. Sealed tenders should invariably be invited in the most open and public manner possible, by advertisement in the Government Gazette, or the press, or by public notice.”
The NVCO pointed out some of the illegal practices in the state which result in poor quality of work and supply such as government employees, other professionals and non-registered contractors involved in contract and supply work; Politicians and ministers grabbing contract and supply work by way of manipulating and awarding it to their own children, relatives and people of their choice; Table tender in awarding works and not following the tender norms as per NPWD Code and CPWD Code; Registered contractors issuing writing pads to unauthorized persons in contract works and supplies; Extortion and illegal collection of cash/taxes; Deduction and collection of abnormal commissions by politicians, ministers, bureaucrats, technocrats and government servants as well as various organisations including undergrounds; Supply of sub-standard goods/material; Used poor quality of materials; Not completing the work in time; Drawn the project/work amount without doing the work; Irregular in the release of the payments(contractors’ bill), etc.
NVCO President & Convenor ACAUT Nagaland (legal cell) Kezhokhoto Savi said that in order to ensure quality of work to be done in the state the contractors must utilise the entire project amount and not to pay any commission to politicians, ministers, etc.
“The contractors must not pay illegal collection of cash/taxes in the check gates and on any highways while transporting building material, etc. The contractors’ fraternity should remain strong and united and fight together against injustices meted out to contractors by authorities and politicians while awarding developmental works in the state. The contract clause such as ‘Payment shall be made as and when fund is available” was an arbitrary clause and not tenable for any contract work anywhere in the country except Nagaland.”
