Sidhu says no to CM on tenders to single bidder

Ruchika M Khanna

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 19

A defiant Local Bodies Minister, Navjot Singh Sidhu, today refused to abide by the directions of Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh for allowing tenders for development works in cases where there is a single bidder.

A spat took place between the two during a meeting of the Chief Minister and MLAs from the south Malwa region here today. Many MLAs are learnt to have complained that people are unhappy with the government for failing to carry out pending works.

The MLAs have complained that while new works are not being allotted, even projects clears by the previous government have remained unfinished after the tenders were cancelled by the Local Bodies Department, headed by Sidhu.

Sidhu said he would not allot any tenders for works if there was a single bidder. Though the Chief Minister is learnt to have asked Sidhu that there is no legal bar on allotting singe bid tenders, the latter insisted that he would do it “if the CM gives me these directions in writing”. The CM is learnt to have insisted that development works cannot remain in limbo.

Sources say Chief Principal Secretary to CM Suresh Kumar intervened and said the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB) was the executing agency for unfinished works started by the previous government, so the issue of restarting these after releasing dues of contractors should be brought before the Board for approval.

The Chief Minister is the chairman of the PIDB. For allotting new works to a single bidder, it was decided to form a committee of four officers, including Chief Principal Secretary, Chief Secretary and top officers in the finance and local bodies departments, who would take a call on how to allot the works.

Among other complaints the MLAs lodged was the growing resentment among Dalits. They said they were unhappy with the Congress for its inability to release the post-matric scholarship funds and due to high power bills.

During the SAD-BJP regime, almost 18 lakh Dalit consumers were getting 200 units free. But in the past two years, there has been a cap. Only those Dalit consumers get this free power whose annual consumption is less than 3,000 units and have a sanctioned power load of only up to 1 kW.

Zira skips meet

MLA Kulbir Singh Zira, who was suspended for indiscipline, did not attend the meeting on Saturday. Though he was at the Punjab Bhawan, where the meeting took place, he reportedly kept sitting with Punjab affairs incharge Asha Kumari in a separate room.

Rs 202-cr grant for Malwa districts

• The CM announced a development grant of Rs 202.35 crore for strengthening infrastructure in Bathinda, Faridkot, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Moga, Mansa, Sangrur and Muktasar districts.
• MLAs again raised the issue of Gaurdians of Governance becoming a power unto themselves.

Laddi meets CAPT, seeks apology

• Congress MLA from Sri Hargobindpur Balwinder Laddi, who stirred a row by saying Partap Bajwa would be the next CM, on Saturday apologised to Capt Amarinder.
• Sources say Laddi met the CM along with Qadian MLA Fateh Jang Bajwa. He is learnt to have denied that he said anything against the CM.