Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has enhanced the financial limit for calling tenders in off-line mode to Rs 10 lakh, meeting a key demand of public representatives before the crucial elections of the civic body. An order to his effect was issued by Municipal Commissioner cum Administrator Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari on Friday. In process, NMC reversed its earlier decision wherein the Municipal Commissioner capped financial limit for off-line tenders upto Rs 3 lakh only. Although off-line tender limit was earlier Rs 10 lakh only, same was, however, effectively milked by the system, involving scrupulous Babus and contractors that forced Municipal Commissioner to step in for avoiding wastage of public money.

 

In February this year, the Commissioner made it mandatory for all tenders above Rs 3 lakh to be called through on-line mode only for avoiding strain on the cash-strapped civic body. Incidentally, the fresh order on scaling up off-line financial limits for public works under NMC was issued the day Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule reviewed development projects in second capital of the State. The meeting was attended by city legislators who were critical of Municipal Commissioner for violating Urban Development Department (UDD) order that allowed off-line mode for tender upto Rs 10 lakh. The contention of public representatives was that the Rs 3 lakh rule hampered quick decisions relating to public complaints, like storm drains, small roads, garden works, laying of new drainage line, construction of chamber and other smaller works.

 

Although, Commissioner in fresh order warned of action in case it came to the notice that bigger works are bifurcated by dividing the works in Rs 10 lakh category, then action would be taken against the officials involved. According to the insiders, the reversal defeats the very purpose for which the Municipal Commissioner made e-tender for all public works above Rs 3 lakh compulsory. The same was intended to clamp down on alleged unethical practices in the system that put strain on exchequer. The very purpose of ensuring e-tender for works above Rs 3 lakh was to check any chance of breaking single bigger project into multiple smaller works. The lower rung in Public Works Department (PWD) working hand in glove with some contractors would allocate similar nature of work in different parts to avoid e-tendering that leads to further checks and balances in the system.

 

The practice of dividing works is done very scientifically to avoid duplicate names and evade any action thereon. Public representatives take on the matter of financial limit for works orders was quite different from the official stance of NMC earlier. They escalated the matter to State Government, pointing out the difficulties being faced by them in getting works sanctioned at civic body. They contended, e-tendering for bigger projects is quite okay. But Rs 10 lakh limit for off-line tenders is necessary to show quick results before citizens’ resentment builds into anger. E-tendering process as per them takes about three months to complete and then the work order and other procedure requires another one month. By that time, patience of citizens runs out and hence, off-line works upto Rs 10 lakh can ensure faster awarding of contracts. That, they claim, would help in resolving smaller issues on the ground quite early.