Cancel Polavaram Tenders: YSR Congress

Alleging the presence of large-scale irregularities in the Polavaram tenders, the YSRC demanded that the state government either cancel the bids or place all records of the quotations before an all-party committee, to prove its transparency.

"Revealing the details of only two bidders does not go well with the tender process, and some non-state players in the chief minister's office (CMO) have been actively pursuing the issue in finalising the bids," party Central Governing Council (CGC) member Dr. M V Mysoora Reddy told reporters on Tuesday.

"Though the issue is being dragged, contending that the High Powered Committee (HPC) and the chief minister would finalise the bids, we have serious objections, as some non-state players are operating from the CMO itself," he said.

The details of other bidders should also have been announced, instead of just the amount quoted by the two short-listed companies, which seem to have some common business interests," he said, adding that the "inflated bid" of Rs. 500 crores is a burden on the exchequer.

"Of the two companies shortlisted, Soma CGGC has questionable credentials, the world over. It was accused of funding terrorists in Pak Occupied Kashmir (POK), has evaded VAT in Nepal, and is prohibited from any mercantile activity in Sudan," he said.

"The solvency certificate should be given by a nationalised bank, but in this case, it was given by a Chinese bank, and these procedural lapses do not merit the company to be the main bidder. With reports that the two short-listed companies - Soma-CGGC joint venture and SEW-Patel - having mutual interests, and that some vested interests are working within CMO, either the bid should be cancelled, or the details of all those who participated in the bids should be placed before an all-party committee," he said.

The cost has gone up by Rs. 500 crores within 9 months, though there is a marginal increase in the cost of cement and steel. This hike is not proportionate," he said.

"The tenders committee did not follow the procedure properly, the HPC and CM are bound to follow the report to be submitted by it," he said. (INN)