Times of India: Ahmedabad: Thursday,
July 14, 2016.
Gujarat high
court on Wednesday sought explanation from the state government on what was the
"limited tendering" process that it adopted in awarding contracts
worth Rs 500 crore in Charanka solar power project.
This was in
response to a PIL filed by a social worker, Farsubhai Gokalani, objecting to
the awarding of 24 such work contracts through the limited tendering process.
He has alleged that the process had been adopted to favour kin of BJP leaders.
He claimed that advertisements inviting bids were published only in nine cases.
The
petitioner has further alleged that among those who got benefit of the process
are relatives of ministers like Nitin Patel and Shankar Chaudhary, and of
Junagadh MLA Kunwarji Bhesaniya.
Gokalani had
earlier this year approached Anti-Corruption Bureau to probe and take action
against those responsible for the alleged widespread corruption that had taken
place between 2011 and 2013.
Under the RTI
Act provisions, Gokalani obtained information that the contract for development
works for construction of roads, electrification and laying of pipelines etc.,
were carried out near Charanka in Patan district. Only seven contracts had been
awarded, following a due tendering process.
Gokalani has
alleged that the Gujarat Power Corporation Ltd, which was the implementing
agency, had awarded 16 such contracts to people close to the ruling party and
ministers. The court has kept further hearing on this matter on Friday.
.JPG)
.JPG)
