CM highlights transparency in power department

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sept 19: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma today said the Cabinet’s decision to approve a Rs 700 crore tender for implementation of the loss reduction project under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS) reflects the transparency that the government power department has.

“Bringing it (tender) to the cabinet is an indication of the transparency that the department has, the minister has where he would like to share the procedure, the process followed, the steps taken in order to arrive to what we have arrived and to allot to work and to move ahead with certain aspects,” Conrad told reporters.

“You have to understand that it is a large tender, it is a Rs 700 crores tender and when a large tendering process like this happens, it’s a basic process or a kind of culture that we follow that any large decision that is there and a decision which could possibly have you know, people could misunderstand even though there is nothing to misunderstand but it has possibility,” he said while adding “So it is always a culture that we try to bring these kind of decisions to the cabinet for the sake of transparency. We are not trying to hide anything, it has been given all the details to the cabinet ministers and everything is in the open for people to see.”

Recently, the opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma has questioned the Cabinet’s decision to approve a tendering process proposed by the power department and cautioned the cabinet ministers if it can be a trap against them.

Reacting to this, Conrad said, “It’s quite funny that Dr Mukul Sangma has questioned why. That means he is questioning the transparency procedure that we are having. If we wanted to do it quietly or if there was an intention then we would have never brought it to Cabinet.”

He said every detail about how many times the retendering, how many times the extension of the tendering was done it’s mentioned out there in the cabinet note and the cabinet ministers were briefed about it about the fact that the government had written continuously a couple of times to the REC and inform them about the different kind of issues that came up in the tendering process and sought their approval to go ahead because the tendering process had been extended had been re-tendered.

“And all the necessary procedures have been followed and only after we got the approval or a green signal from REC did we go ahead with the certain aspects. Of course procedure is not complete yet but certain parts are moving forward and in that process to ensure the transparency would be maintained we decided together both AT Mondal and myself that lets us take it to the cabinet and let everybody know what it is, ask questions about it, feel free to feel comfortable about all the questions so that there is no doubt tomorrow if anybody in the press or public asks us,” the CM said.

“So I think it’s just the opposite of what he (Mukul) had reacted to that. I think the fact that has been brought to the cabinet is something that one should appreciate that transparency is being maintained,” he further added.

Mukul warns of ‘trap’ waiting for Cabinet

Staff Reporter

Shillong, Sep 17: Opposition AITC leader and former chief minister Mukul Sangma has questioned the recent Cabinet’s decision to approve a tendering process proposed by the power department and cautioned the cabinet ministers that this may be a trap against them.

He was referring to the decision of the Cabinet taken on August 25, where the work has been alloted to L1 bidder for implementation of the loss reduction project under the Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS).

“I am questioning the intent of that particular cabinet agenda. The item for the consideration and approval of the cabinet which was brought by the power department itself is reflective of the underlying fact that there are certain irregularities in the process of tender otherwise if there is no irregularity why was it necessary for the power department to bring it to the cabinet,” Mukul told reporters.

He said there are already set of rules notified by the department of finance for tendering process and there is also CVC (central vigilance commission) guidelines.

“Now if PWD is calling tender, are they coming to the Cabinet to get approval? They don’t come so why MeECL has to come? MeECL is already an unbundled entity, it is no longer a state electricity board, it is a company,” Mukul added.

Further, the former chief minister said, “You have to ask the members of the Cabinet, you are approving somebody’s process of work which might have been irregular but in five minutes they have approved it. Now as a minister how do you know they have followed (the procedures) or not. If they have followed the procedures, why do they need approval of the Cabinet?”

He also pointed out that the recent charge-sheeting by the Lokayukta against former members of the GHADC executive committee was because of a collective decision they took as an executive committee.

Mukul further alleged that the chief minister Conrad K Sangma will put all the cabinet ministers into a trap because of such decision.

“Every tendering process has to adhere to the given norms which are in sync with the various notifications including the financial rules, including the CBC guidelines. Unless there is a deviation and irregularities why will they need (to bring it to the cabinet)? MeECL is a company. Therefore, it requires unearthing of the fact. What is the underlying thing and what exactly is there that it requires the cabinet approval?” he said.

“The approval of the cabinet to regularize a process in itself is inherently irregular. If cabinet approves, then the whole cabinet will be held responsible. So indirectly the ministers, who are unnecessarily being dragged into will also be (held responsible),” the former CM added further.