Kohima District Congress Committee (KDCC) has charged the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) civil division No.1, Dimapur, under chief engineer (C), North East-II, civil zone with favouritism in awarding contract works to un-qualified firm to carry work out construction works across the state through bogus e-tendering system of BSNL.
In a press release, KDCC general secretary (admn), Abalie Medoze alleged that of late several anomalies of alleged corruption has surfaced in the BSNL Civil Division No1 at, Dimapur, Nagaland , adding that the “e-tendering system of awarding contract works in BSNL has become a joke.”
KDCC general secretary further alleged that BSNL civil division No.1, Dimapur violated e-tendering rules in construction of RCC retaining wall in front of parking area at OCB exchange compound, Kohima.
KDCC claimed that two firms had participated for the said work through e-tender – firm one had quoted the rate of Rs.8,24,910 through online bid and firm two had quoted the rate of Rs. 8,79,275 through online bid.
It alleged later on in violation of e-tendering rules, BSNL civil division No.1 officials at Dimapur had manually modified and twisted the amount offered for the bid by firm two to Rs.8,12,675 making the e-tendering system meaningless.
Medoze stated that the manual change of the amount in the financial bid was done by the BSNL engineering wing officials to support firm two and the work was allotted to them on March 4, 2016.
Terming it as “a clear case of corruption/favouritism”, KDCC said such kind of unfair means cannot be tolerated by any civilized society.
Further, alleging flouting of e-tendering norms in construction of Inspection Bunglow and Conference Hall at Half Nagarjan, Dimapur (Balance Work), the KDCC stated that three firms had participated in the e-tender and firm two was the highest bidder.
In that tender, KDCC said a firm with lowest bid had submitted hard copy of the financial bid before the opening of the financial bid thus violating e-tendering norms.
On January 22, 2016, KDCC said another firm with next lowest bid had raised objection of violation of tender norms by the lowest bidder and requested that the work should be allotted to him.
However, KDCC said the authorities of BSNL Civil Division No1 at Dimapur ignored all the rights of the next lowest bidder and unilaterally cancelled the tender.
On calling re-tender, KDCC said firm two had participated as other firms had “lost faith’ in BSNL e-tendering system.
Alleging that earlier firm two was awarded construction of 40 mtrs ground base tower at K.Station Wokha district although it was a single tender, KDCC said now if BSNL authorities decided to again award work for construction of Inspection Bunglow and Conference Hall at Half Nagarjan, Dimapur (Balance Work) it would be for second time that work was allotted to the same firm through single tender.
Pointing out that so far BSNL Civil Division No1 Dimapur had called only three e-tender, KDCC said it would be unprecedented if firm two again got the work for construction of inspection bunglow and Conference Hall at Half Nagarjan (Balance Work) as all the works through e-tender would have been awarded to a single firm.