Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, May 17: A blacklisted firm has allegedly been selected as the lowest bidder for hiring and installation of temporary toilets and bathing facility etc for Amarnath Yatra 2024.
Reliable sources told the Excelsior that M/s Bhutani International Pvt Ltd, which has been purportedly declared as the lowest bidder for the allotment of work worth Rs 350 lakh, is currently blacklisted by a Government body in the State of Maharashtra.
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This has been done in contravention of the eligibility criteria clearly mentioned in the tender document, according to which any bidder entity which has been barred by the Central Government, any State Government, a statutory client, or a public sector undertaking from participating in any project in last five years, would not be eligible to submit a proposal either by itself or through its associate.
Hence, it raises significant questions about eligibility of L1 bidder and its compliance with the technical qualifications required for participation in this tender.
Pertinent to mention that bids for hiring, installation and de-installation of temporary toilets, urinals and bathing facility, including O&M for Amarnath Yatra 2024 within Srinagar Municipal Corporation and Urban Local Body Kashmir jurisdiction for the period of June 5 to August 5, 2024, were recently invited by the Srinagar Municipal Corporation.
Technically qualified lowest bidder (L1) was to be selected for the project with an estimated cost of Rs 350 lakh. The technical bids were opened on April 26, 2024, after which financial bids were opened today and M/s Bhutani International Pvt Ltd was purportedly declared as the lowest bidder.
However , sources said that M/s Bhutani International Pvt Ltd, which had qualified the Technical bid and has been now declared L1, is currently blacklisted by a Government authority.
An official letter in this regard is in possession of the Excelsior, according to which, Bhutani International Pvt Ltd has been recently blacklisted by Tujapur Municipal Council, District Dharashiv in Maharashtra and restricted from submitting any kind of tender to the Municipal Council for three years (upto March 2027).
As per the letter, written to Collector Dharashiv, the said firm was given a supply order to provide temporary toilets at various places in the city from October 15, 2023 for the comfort of devotees during the Yatra under Sharadiya Navratri festival 2023. However, it was noticed that less number of temporary toilets were erected during the entire Yatra period thus creating inconvenience to the devotees.
Further, despite repeated instructions by the Municipal Council Office, Bhutani International did not take notice of the same following which the punitive action was taken.
When contacted, Commissioner of Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Dr Owais Ahmed said that he would look into the matter and necessary action will be taken if the said firm is found technically ineligible and blacklisted.
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