Nagpur: 
, which has been the mother of all controversies over the ages has raised the hackles yet again. Out of the 81 tenders that the State Government had decided to cancel owing to the irregularities, the Vidarbha Irrigation Development Corporation (VIDC) has defended 13 tenders. VIDC has snowballed into another controversy saying that that no action needs to be taken in the said 13 tenders. According to the VIDC, in the 13 tenders work has already been completed or only a little portion remains to be done. As such, its officials feel it leaves little scope for cancellation and calling for fresh tenders.
VIDC which is the final authority to implement the cancellation order, has also sent a report to the state government in this regard.
The 13 works include the tender for left bank canal (LBC) of the dam, which was in the news. Following inspections by VIDC, it was found that lining of the walls in some parts of the canal was not adequate. Lining is needed to prevent seepage from the canals. The work here was awarded to Bhangadiya and Co, a company headed by BJP MLC Mitesh Bhangadiya.
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The firm has been directed by the VIDC to do the lining again at its own expense. “The work is at an advanced stage,” the sources said, adding, “hence, there is no need to cancel the tender”.
Following controversies relating to the state’s irrigation sector, the state cabinet had passed an order in August this year to cancel works on which the anti-corruption bureau (ACB) is conducting an investigation.
The ACB is investigating the irregularities pointed out by the Nankishore Wadnere Committee, which is an internal panel of the VIDC. There are 40 and 41 tenders covered by ACB probe and Wadnere Committee, respectively.
This takes the total number tenders due to be cancelled to 81 in Gosikhurd project. Notices are expected to be issued for the remaining tenders. The VIDC wants to have a foolproof method so that it cannot be challenged. Each tender will be studied individually and cancellation done by invoking the concerned clause of the agreement or under Indian Contract Act. A show cause notice will be served first, VIDC sources said.
