By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: All Megha-laya Suppliers and Contractors Association (AMS&CA) has opposed the move of the Government to fix a very high amount on the packages relating to the projects designed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) for ‘Supporting Human Capital Development in Meghalaya.’
“The Government has intentionally quoted higher amounts on the package of the ADB project to prevent the local contractors from participating in the bidding process,” AMS&CA adviser Dino G Dympep said while addressing a press conference here on Friday.
Out of the total project cost of Rs 750 crore which would cover 127 secondary schools in the State, Dympep informed that the Government has fixed Rs 8 crore for each project out of the total Rs 40 crore which will be implemented in the first phase.
“The local contractor would not be able to participate in these projects since none of them has executed a project amounting to Rs 8 crore,” he said, adding, that the projects will ultimately be awarded to business tycoons who are close aides of politicians”.
He said that the Association would not allow the Government to undermine the interest of the local contractors especially when Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma himself has given a statement that this project would help to generate employment opportunities for the local youth.
“We will protest if the Government does not bring down the amount on the packages of this ADB project,” Dympep said.
AMS&CA president, however, informed that during their meeting with the ADB and PWD officials, they have given a proposal to bring down the amount of the packages to Rs 3 crore which would allow the local contractors to participate.
“In fact, they (PWD and ADB officials) were open to the idea of having joint ventures where the local contractors can join hands in implementing these projects,” he said.
Even though seemed convinced with the suggestion given by the local contractors, the AMS&CA president said that ADB and PWD officials did not give any assurance that they would agree to the suggestion given by them.
“After the meeting, we were hopeful of getting a positive response in reducing the amount on the packages of the ADB project. But sadly they have received inputs that the Government is going ahead with the amount of Rs 8 crore package,” he said.
AMS&CA secretary BL Nongbri said that the local contractors can prove that they are more efficient and dependent if they are given opportunities to participate in these projects.
“We have seen how big contractors and firms from outside have failed to deliver in many of the major projects implemented in the State. The classic example is the BPL housing units at Nongmynsong where the firm decided to abandon the project without completing it,” Nongbri said. He said that the Government has not learnt from past experiences and continues to promote the big contractors who have failed in all aspects.
Mentionably, the $ 100,000 ADB project will improve the quality and delivery of secondary education (including teacher training) and skill development programmes thereby, reinforcing the efforts of the Government of Meghalaya towards developing the state’s human capital. ADB will be guided by the two flagship central programs, namely the National Skill Development Mission and the Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) or the National Secondary Education Mission (and related teacher training schemes), and help to operationalize these effectively in Meghalaya.
This financial aid, which will initially come as a loan from the ADB, will then be converted into 10 per cent loan and 90 per cent grant, the Chief Minister had informed and said this would go a long way in enhancing the capacities of the youths and making them more employable.