PHE Minister breaks silence on ‘favouritism’ allegations

Rs 1,900-crore projects awarded to BAC Infratech Pvt Ltd through transparent tendering process: Marcuise

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG, May 20:
Breaking his silence on the
allegations of “favouritism”
in the award of contracts
worth nearly Rs 1,900 crore
to a Hyderabad-based firm,
PHE Minister Marcuise N.
Marak on Wednesday main-
tained that all projects were
allotted strictly through a
transparent tendering process
based on merit and technical
eligibility.

Responding to questions
on RTI findings by The
Shillong Times that report-
edly showed infrastructure
projects were awarded to
BAC Infratech Pvt Ltd, PHE
Minister Marcuise N. Marak
said the allegation that the
government “favoured” any
particular firm was “totally
incorrect”.

He said that the depart-
ment followed all norms and
procedures required to award
contracts, particularly under
major centrally sponsored
schemes. He stated that the
total cost of projects under
the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM)
alone stood at 6,737.14
crore, covering 3,762 stand-
alone schemes along with
pipe water supply provi-
sions for schools, Anganwadi
centres, and other public
institutions.

According to Marak, the
projects were distributed
among various contractors
and firms through a process
overseen by a tender com-
mittee headed by the Com-
missioner and Secretary of
the PHE Department, with
officials from the Finance
and Law departments also
involved.

He said the government
did not “simply favour any-
body” as alleged and insisted
that all procedures were car-
ried out in accordance with
established norms. He added
that while RTI documents
may correctly show that the
company secured projects,
the conclusion that the con-
tracts were awarded through
favouritism was unfounded.

The minister said major
projects under JJM, JICA,
AMRUT 2.0, NESID, and
other schemes were being
executed under EPC (Engi-
neering, Procurement, and
Construction) or turnkey
models as mandated by the
Government of India. Under
such systems, firms are re-
quired to undertake design,
execution and completion of
projects before handing them
over to the department.

Marak said local contrac-
tors with the required techni-
cal expertise and experience
for EPC and turnkey projects
were “very few”, adding that
companies secured the proj-
ects based on competency
and qualification through the
tendering process.

When asked whether any
local firms had competed for
the tenders, the minister said
qualified local contractors
would have been awarded
the work if they had met the
technical requirements. He
maintained that there was
“no scope of manipulation or
favouritism” in the tendering
system and reiterated that
the government had com-
plied with all regulations and
guidelines of the Centre.