South ZP upset over changes in PWD tender conditions

Margao: Members of the South Goa zilla panchayat, at a meeting on Friday, voiced their concerns over the recent move by the PWD to do away with the practice of rejecting all bids quoting 20% below the estimated cost of the project.

They pointed out that, as there was no limit specified on how low a bidder could quote for a given project, there was a risk that the quality of the work could suffer in the bargain. They urged govt to reconsider the decision.South Goa ZP chairperson Sanjana Velip, who chaired the meeting, said that the views expressed by the members would be forwarded to govt. The PWD recently announced the withdrawal of a circular where all bids quoting 20% below the estimated cost were outright rejected.

Instead, it was announced that the PWD has decided to allow such bids, but the lower the bid, the higher the performance guarantee applicable to the contractor will be.

The new tender conditions came into effect on June 1.Members also raised concerns over the delay in processing their proposals, including the preparation of estimates and billing of development works. Deputy chairperson Siddharth Gauns Dessai explained that four of the five junior engineers attached to the South Goa ZP were holding additional charge in other departments, leading to the delay. He said they requested govt for at least four full-time junior engineers to ensure that development works are not hampered.

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