Mohindra seeks report from Patiala MC chief

PATIALA: PUNJAB local bodies minister Brahm Mohindra has sought a report on the Patiala MC awarding a ₹6.85-crore tender for bio-remediation of dumpsite to a company blacklisted by a civic body in Jharkhand for breach of clauses in a similar tender.

This comes after HT published a report on as how the MC awarded work to the blacklisted firm. The minister has asked the local bodies department to seek a factual report from the Patiala MC commissioner.

The MC allegedly violated the terms and conditions fixed for the bidders and awarded the work of to the firm Akanksha Enterprises. In a communication, Adityapur (Jharkhand) MC commissioner said, “We debarred the company on June 4 due to negligence in performing the task in a stipulated time and also forfeited its ₹54.33 lakh security deposit. ”

The Patiala MC ignored the clause and went ahead after taking legal advice from its legal advisor. Commissioner Poonamdeep Kaur has justified awarding of the tender on basis of legal opinion, saying the rates quoted by company were also at the lower side.

HC PULLS UP CIVIC BODY

The Punjab and Haryana High Court pulled up the Patiala MC for not filing a reply on petition seeking cancelation of the tender. MC lawyer said he has filed an affidavit in the case but the office report of the court said they didn’t receive any. The HC directed the respondents to file the affidavit within three days. August 28 is the next date of hearing.