Contractors, netas threaten Land Army

Contractors, netas threaten Land Army
‘Don’t Bid, Or Else...’; Projects Worth Crores Of Rupees At Stake
The Times of India

Bangalore: What was known is now out in the open: A contractor-politician nexus has surfaced in Karnataka. A government organisation is being threatened into submission as crores of rupees meant for development projects are up fog grabs.

In seven months, the Karnataka Land Army Corporation (KLAC) has faced eight threatening situations, death threats and physical roughing up. Its officers have been told by politicians, government officers and contractors: “Do not bid for projects.’’

KLAC, which is one of the few profit-making PSUs in the state, has received national plaudits for its construction work and the state government has underlined its reliability by entrusting all flood-relief works. And the wrong committed by the KLAC? Deprive small-time contractors of plum projects.

“Local contractors inflate bids and pay a cut to politicians. In almost all tenders, our bids are at least 5 per cent lower and we bag the contracts. This hits the contractor-politician nexus and they are threatening us not to bid,” a senior KLAC official said.

Sample this report sent by a KLAC deputy director to the head office: “We went to get tender forms for the drinking water project. Local politicians and contractors told us: If you do, we will burn your vehicle. We braved it and took the forms. A few days later, when we went to submit them, the district incharge minister and local contractors again threatened and abused us. We put in the bid only after police protection and support was given by the zilla panchayat CEO.’’

The latest in the series is that top politicians are demanding withdrawal of KLAC bid for a Gulbarga district hospital, which is worth Rs 20 crore.

Rural development and panchayat raj minister Basavaraj Horatti said, “I am aware of it. Contractors, encouraged by politicians, have even come to beat up our staff. I have sought police protection for them. Political pressure can reduce only through e-tendering.’’

Expressing shock, chief secretary B K Das said reforms were in order. “We should opt for external consultancy outfits to take over the tendering process in construction departments.’’

The bid-time story
NOVEMBER — Rs 20-crore Gulbarga hospital, the KLAC under pressure to withdraw in favour of a Hyderabad-based contractor.
NOVEMBER — Rs 8-crore Raichur drinking water project, KLAC bids with police escort.
OCTOBER — Rs 8-crore Belgaum Jal Nirmal project, KLAC officials physically stopped from bidding.
AUGUST — Rs 30-crore Bijapur Jal Nirmal project, KLAC bids with police protection.
MAY as — ‘incompetent Rs 15-crore ’ Raichur . KLAC moves Medical court College . , KLAC disqualified MAY — Rs 15-crore Belgaum Medical College, KLAC braved pressure, won the contract. APRIL — Rs 2 crore Mandya mini-Vidhana Soudha, KLAC denied application forms; local contractor got contract.