SHILLONG: The NPP-led coalition government is once again facing charges of favouritism with the opposition Congress alleging that the tender for the central Saubhagya scheme is mired in controversy since day one.
In this connection, the CLP has stressed the need for an independent investigation “to verify the criminal intent of the political executive of the state government to misuse government schemes”.
In a statement issued here, CLP spokesperson HM Shangpliang said the Saubhagya guidelines issued by the Centre had given a deadline till December 31, 2017, for awarding projects and the first deadline for completion of projects was December 31.
However, the government has issued a tender for the project only on September 26 this year. He pointed to the complete deviation from normal transparent bidding process “reflective of mala fide intention for favouritism”.
He alleged that the terms of the tender were so high that none of the existing contractors and no contractors from Meghalaya qualify to place a bid- and the time given for bidding for this project was 8 days.
According to him, the terms of the tender raised many eyebrows, as the Congress alleged it was crafted in a manner to exclude all but a few favoured contractors whose names were leaked in newspaper reports.
In this connection, writ petitions were filed in the High Court by agitated contractors. However, the State government continued to insist that the terms were necessary for meeting the deadline of completing the project.
Considering the allegations that were raised, the High Court ordered the entire tender process to be stayed. Again, the state government revealed before the High Court that only four eligible bids were received by it.
Shangpliang alleged that a certain contractor about which news reports had been circulating as being the pre-selected contractor, for whom the tender has been designed, was also one of the bidders.
The Congress also expressed shock that the petitioner in the writ petition mysteriously withdrew the writ petition, allowing the Government to escape cancelling the tender.
Prior to the incident, the state government filed a request for the High Court to allow it to withdraw and cancel the tender.
“Whereas no reasons for withdrawal of the petition were given, it is not difficult to understand there might be external factors or pressure behind this sudden withdrawal,” Shangpliang said.
Again, Shangpliang pointed to another “strange event” and said notification issued by the governor on November 28 to release PS Thangkhiew, Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman of the Meghalaya Energy Corporation Ltd., from his post.
