We will inquire into credentials of Tantia Construction: Tynsong

From our Correspondent
SHILLONG, Sept 25: PHE Minister Prestone Tynsong today said the government is adopting transparency in awarding contract to Kolkata-based Tantia Construction Company and the department is not aware of the allegation that the company is a black listed one.

Reacting to news reports that the State Government has awarded the construction of Phase III of the Greater Shillong Water Supply Scheme to the company without looking into its credentials, Tynsong said, “The department was not aware of such anomalies.” However, he said that the government would write to State governments where Tantia had worked or was currently working, and seek their official views on its performance and credentials.

Tynsong said, “If the news reports have any truth in them, then the government will take action as it may deem fit. There is no hide and seek here, we will be transparent.” Stating that ‘credibility is more important than the price,’ Tynsong said that the department had complied with all the rules and procedures of tendering and attributed the delay in implementing the project due to the April 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

Tynsong also said following permission from the Election Commission of India to proceed with the project, the PHE floated the tender on April 20, 2009, and after following due process which included threadbare scrutiny of the technical bids on August 4, 2009 and financial bids 13 days later by the Tender Acceptance Board (TAB), the department resolved to award the work to the lowest bidder, Tantia Construction Ltd from Kolkata, whose bid was only Rs 51.40 crore. Tynsong further said he only approved what the TAB had found valid. He said the other two bidders include M/s SEW Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, which came second with a quote of a little over Rs 66.49 crore, and M/s IVRCL, which quoted a little over Rs 129 crore. PHE Chief Engineer TG Abraham said the department had sought information from the company on its background, especially whether it was facing any litigation or not to which “the company had replied in the negative”. THE SENTINEL