No scope for irregularities in e-tendering process, says CM

“There is no scope for any irregularities in awarding contracts through e-tendering process. The contract will be awarded to eligible lowest bidder not to any particular bidder,” he said in reply to the charges made by DMK Aravakurichi MLA V Senthil Balaji inthe Assembly.

He said that under the e-tender, the bidder who meets the eligibility condition and quotes the lowest amount would be awardedthe contract.

Taking part in the debate on the demands for grants for the Highways Department and the Public Works Department, Senthil Balaji alleged that the maintenance contract were being awarded to particular four or five contractors across the state. He claimed that the tender conditions are being changed to award contracts to certain companies.

Palaniswami accused the previous DMK government of awarding contracts through box tender in which only one bidder participated. “I have proof to show awarding of contract to single bidder through box tender system. The irregularities happened then,” he said, adding that in the e-tendering process, two to three companies are participating in it. “This is a five-year-long contract. Only companies which have good financial support can take the contract and execute the works,” he said.

The DMK legislator also alleged that average budgetary fund allocation for the highways department has declined from 6.5 per cent during the DMK regime to about 5 per cent during the present AIADMK government from 2011. Dismissing the charges, Palaniswami said that a total of Rs 18,067 crore was allocated in the five years of the DMK government while Rs 69,664 crore was allotted in the AIADMK government.

Balaji, however, added that the fund allocated for the highways department comes to 5 per cent considering the total budget allocation of Rs 17,47,028 in the AIADMK regime. He also alleged that the highways department has failed to spend the fund allocated in the budget over the years.