Tendering process for streetlights comes under a cloud

The MC had called for tenders for dismantling the existing streetlight poles where fancy lights are to be installed. Executive engineer S.P Singh has come under a cloud for unauthorisedly breaking open the seal,put on the tender box,Adrash Singla,SE (B&R).

The cost of the tenders is more than Rs 50 lakh.

As till 3 p.m,deadline for receiving applications,no contractor came to submit the tender applications,Adrash Singla,SE (B&R),sealed the box and left for a meeting. However in his absence,executive engineer (Lights) S.P Singh broke open the seal and put applications of the contractors who had come late into the box.

He later put his own seal on the box.

Singla however has taken this violation seriously and has lodged a written complaint in this regard to the commissioner.

He said,“Singh is not a member of the tender inviting cell,so he was not authorised to break open the seal. Moreover,it was done in my absence. I had already turned down the contractors’ request because they had come late.”

So far,the tenders have not been opened and now the commissioner has been authorised to take a decision in this matter.

SP Singh however said that he did no violation and the contractors were late by just a few minutes. “The contractors had got a bit late and hence their tenders were accepted in consultation of SE Singla,” he claimed.. But reports said that Singla had a heated argument with Singh over the matter.

When contacted,MC Commissioner A.K Sinha expressed his ignorance about the matter. He said that he would inquire into the matter tomorrow morning when the written note from Singla would reach him.