Jaipur: In a major setback to Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) projects in the state, the finance department has returned files related to tenders for 11 such projects to the Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED).
Officials stated that the finance department had instructed the PHED officials either to recall these tenders completely or to negotiate the rates for these tenders with the contractors.
“These are tenders for 11 JJM projects worth around Rs 7,300 crore. Earlier, in July, the finance department had rejected tenders related to JJM projects worth Rs 20,000 crore. These 11 tenders are part of the same tenders earlier rejected,” said a PHED official.
Officials said these projects were meant for eight districts—Pratapgarh, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Kota, Bhilwara, Barmer, Dungarpur and Phalodi.
The decision of the finance department had kept PHED officials on the lurch on their next course of actions. As per the instructions, the PHED officials either had to negotiate the rates of the tenders or they had float tenders afresh for all these projects.
“Both are difficult. It’s very difficult to negotiate the rates of a floated tender. It’s easy to cancel the tenders and float fresh tenders with new rates. But, this process is time consuming. In all, the decision would delay these JJM projects to some extent,” said another PHED official.
A section of PHED officials explained that with recent scams related to JJM project works getting surfaces the state government is very strict with tenders related to JJM projects. The rates quoted in the tender was ‘excessively’ high and it would have been difficult for the government to explain if any allegations against these tenders were raised.
“Although initially the government gave clean chit, the government had to finally agree that two contractors of JJM projects had bagged work order submitting fake certificates,” another official signed off.
Officials stated that the finance department had instructed the PHED officials either to recall these tenders completely or to negotiate the rates for these tenders with the contractors.
“These are tenders for 11 JJM projects worth around Rs 7,300 crore. Earlier, in July, the finance department had rejected tenders related to JJM projects worth Rs 20,000 crore. These 11 tenders are part of the same tenders earlier rejected,” said a PHED official.
Officials said these projects were meant for eight districts—Pratapgarh, Banswara, Chittorgarh, Kota, Bhilwara, Barmer, Dungarpur and Phalodi.
The decision of the finance department had kept PHED officials on the lurch on their next course of actions. As per the instructions, the PHED officials either had to negotiate the rates of the tenders or they had float tenders afresh for all these projects.
“Both are difficult. It’s very difficult to negotiate the rates of a floated tender. It’s easy to cancel the tenders and float fresh tenders with new rates. But, this process is time consuming. In all, the decision would delay these JJM projects to some extent,” said another PHED official.
A section of PHED officials explained that with recent scams related to JJM project works getting surfaces the state government is very strict with tenders related to JJM projects. The rates quoted in the tender was ‘excessively’ high and it would have been difficult for the government to explain if any allegations against these tenders were raised.
“Although initially the government gave clean chit, the government had to finally agree that two contractors of JJM projects had bagged work order submitting fake certificates,” another official signed off.
