Dimapur, October 24: Observing anomalies in the recently called Notice Inviting Tenders (NIT), Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland today demanded immediate cancellation of the same and issue new NIT after taking necessary action on the above mentioned discrepancies.
In a representation to the Director of Food and Civil Supplies, ACAUT Nagaland, while referring to RTI furnished, expressed apprehension that the department will temper tendering process in favour of individuals and syndicates who have been running the department as transporters and suppliers for the last 15-20 years without any proper open tendering process.
It alleged that the department, despite knowing the entire racket of siphoning and pilferage of PDS for the poor by those contractors, has not taken any action but rather extended their contract year after year in a fraudulent manner.
It said the terms and conditions furnished in Tender documents was a mockery and one of its kinds never found in national or Nagaland contract and supply tendering system putting shame to all other corruptions.While pointing out that Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) for contract and supply in Nagaland as well as nationally is fixed @1-2%, ACAUT alleged that FCS has fixed at Rs 25 lakhs as EMD irrespective of contract value. More surprisingly, it observed that EMD for all the districts was fixed uniformly indicating a clear case of manipulations to shelter department syndicates and cronies who have been running the department de-facto for years. Citing instances of Longleng with 1500MT and Zunheboto with 4000MT, it questioned how both can have same EMD deposit of 25 lakhs.
Also pointing out at the security deposit to any contract work which is fixed @ 3-5% nationally and in Nagaland, it alleged the department irrespective of contract value has fixed Rs 75 lakhs uniformly for the whole districts, a clear case of the department trying to manipulate and tamper tendering process to favour syndicates and individuals. In this case too, it cited instances of Longleng with 1500MT and Zunheboto with 4000MT with the same security deposit of Rs 75 lakhs.
Stating that majority of contractors have given power of attorney to the third party, which clearly proved that those firms and individuals were not capable of carrying out the contract awarded to them, ACAUT claimed that the department continues to extend their contract year after year without transparent tendering process, a clear case of corruption. In this regard, ACAUT has demanded the department to immediately blacklist those firms and individuals from participating in any contract and supply work in the department.
It also demanded that those APL contractors, who have been running their contract under power of attorney, should immediately be black-listed and called for tender through NIT for transport of APL.
In the light of the above stated circumstances, ACAUT Nagaland has demanded immediate cancellation of recently called NIT and issue new NIT after taking necessary action on above mentioned discrepancies. It said ACAUT Nagaland will not hesitate to take the issue to the public for which the issuing authority of NIT will be solely responsible for any situation arising out of its inaction.
