Facing graft taint, govt goes into ‘e-defence’ mode

The eight-month old Devendra Fadnavis government’s image had taken a hit after allegations of irregularities and graft were raised in multi -crore contracts by the Pankaja Munde-led Women and Child Development department, and the Vinod Tawde-led Education department.

Although the government has denied the allegations, Maharashtra Industries Minister Subhash Desai declared in the Legislative Assembly on Friday that the government had decided to modify its policy for rate contracts .

Desai said that the government has now extended the norm for e-tendering of all contracts above Rs 3 lakh to purchases made under the rate contract arrangement too.

Desai also announced that the new policy will minimise discretion, with a majority of the purchase powers decentralised at the department and the local district level.

The Maharashtra cabinet, which approved the new policy on Thursday evening, has also banned all purchases made through the Central Stores Purchase Organisation (CSPO), which has got embroiled in the controversies.

“The organisation’s role would be limited to policy making. It won’t be authorised to order any purchase,” declared Desai.

To improve transparency, the government also declared that it would set up an online portal, where details of all such purchases will be public.

The government also declared plans to set up a third party grievance redressal committee of experts to hear complaints against such contracts, which would have to be decided in a time bound manner.

Incidentally, the new policy, which will become applicable from October 1, has also revised eligibility conditions for contractors vying for such contracts.

This comes after the buzz that a rift within the contractor lobby was behind some of the recent controversies.

Invoking the sons of the soil card, Desai announced that priority would be granted to businessmen from the state for such contracts. It was also decided to reserve 20 per cent of such contracts in the small and micro industries purchase (involving 240 items) for businessmen hailing from backward classes.

It has been announced that an independent policy will be brought out for emergency purchases required during natural calamities or disasters.

With the exception of certain disadvantaged sections —blind, handicapped persons, or handloom purchase, the government has decided to lift reservations for a particular contract for purchases under rate contracts.