‘Blacklisted’ firms find favour for supply of gunny bags

LUCKNOW: Eyebrows have been raised at the Uttar Pradesh Cooperative Sugar Factories Federation Limited (UPCSFFL) passing the technical bids of eight companies even though four of them were blacklisted by the Punjab government earlier this year.

The bids that the federation has passed are for supplying 18400 bales (bundles) of gunny ba gs ( each weighing 1200 grams) for sugar milled at the federation’s 27 factories all over the state.

The Punjab gover nment had blacklisted the four com- panies for supplying substandard jute bags worth several crore rupees and also ordered an inquiry into the matter on August 4 this year.

Hindustan Times is in possession of the letter of the Punjab government dated August 4, 2014 by which it has initiated action against the four companies for supplying “inferior, second-hand and stolen jute bags”.

The UPCSFFL has sent an offer letter to these companies to come and sign the agreement for supplying the jute bags.

Earlier this month, 10 companies submitted their bids after tenders floated for the Rs 40 crore contract. The federation officials disqualified two of the companies, citing several reasons.

SP Dixit, the UPCSFFL’s general manager (purchase), told HT that the inquiry against the four companies pertained to procurement of wheat where they were supposed to supply bags weighing 650 grams each. “Secondly, we have taken an affidavit from all the companies that if they are found blacklisted , concealing any information or responsible for the supply of poor quality bags anywhere in the country, their entire security deposit will be forfeited and they will lose the contract.”

He, however, said the companies in question claimed the Punjab government had gone on to give them a clean chit.

The companies assured that they would submit the relevant documents before signing the agreement, according to the official.

But insiders say the Punjab government’s inquiry began on August 4 and the bids in UP closed on August 30.

It was difficult to believe that the companies in question could get a clean chit in just 26 days or less, the insiders added.