By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 14: The All Meghalaya Contractors & Suppliers Association (AMC&SA) on Wednesday said the alleged practice of clubbing smaller projects into large packages was hurting the interests of local contractors.
Stating that the clubbing limited the participation of local contractors in the tendering process, the association said this practice has been going on since the time of the Congress-led MUA government.
After meeting Health and Family Welfare Minister Wailadmiki Shylla, AMC&SA general secretary Emanuel Syiem Malngiang told reporters that the issue is not new.
He said representations and analytical data have been repeatedly submitted to the government, including to Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, highlighting the adverse economic impact and loss of employment opportunities for local contractors.
He recalled that during 2012-13, the association was compelled to approach the court when multiple buildings were clubbed into large packages under an Asian Development Bank-funded Human Capital Development project implemented by the Education Department.
“At that time, after several representations failed, the High Court of Meghalaya ruled in our favour and directed the government to split the works to allow participation by local contractors,” Malngiang said, adding that despite the judgment, the incumbent government continues to follow the same policy.
He said copies of the court judgment have been submitted to all ministers concerned, including the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Ministers Prestone Tynsong and Sniawbhalang Dhar, to reinforce the association’s demand.
Meanwhile, the members of the association apprised the Health Minister about concerns relating to the implementation of health projects in various districts. A detailed presentation was submitted highlighting issues with the “package system.”
The association pointed out that since most health sector projects are funded under the State Plan, the government has the flexibility to bifurcate or split such works. It urged the minister to divide large projects into smaller components to ensure fair participation by local contractors.
Malngiang said the Health Minister told the delegation that he has called engineers for a discussion to review upcoming projects.
He said that the minister also cited manpower constraints, noting that there is only one Junior Engineer overseeing works in East Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and South West Khasi Hills districts, making it difficult to manage multiple small projects.
However, the association cited examples of large-value projects, including works worth Rs 2.70 crore in Mawweit, around Rs 3 crore in Jaintia Hills, and others valued at Rs 5 crore, Rs 7 crore and Rs 8 crore. The association suggested that if the projects can be split into three or four parts, it will not only be easy for the department to oversee them but also create opportunities for local contractors.
The association alleged that the practice of clubbing works into large packages has become a policy trend, with similar systems being followed in other departments such as the Public Health Engineering. It asked how local contractors could compete when tenders are structured to favour only large firms.
Acknowledging that projects funded by external agencies such as the central government, ADB or World Bank must adhere to specific guidelines, the association maintained that projects funded under the State Plan should be split wherever feasible.
The AMC&SA said the health projects raised before the minister are largely State Plan schemes and should be restructured to ensure inclusive participation by local contractors.
Meanwhile, in a letter submitted to the Health Minister, the association highlighted that works at health centres across the state have been clubbed into single packages, making it difficult for most local contractors to participate. The association claimed that although many works are technically allotted to locals, only a small “creamy layer” of contractors is able to compete, leaving out mediocre and small-time contractors.
“This shows that instead of creating opportunities, the government is depriving the contractors of the state,” the association stated and sought the minister’s intervention to resolve the issue in the larger interest of all stakeholders.
