Transstroy May Be Blacklisted

By VV Balakrishna - HYDERABAD

25th December 2012 08:35 AM

High-power panel meeting tomorrow to decide the fate of Polavaram tenders


Hyderabad: Majority members of the high-power committee headed by chief secretary Minnie Mathew are against awarding the Polavaram irrigation project contract to Transstroy which submitted forged documents.
The committee is scheduled to meet at 5 pm on December 26 to decide the fate of Transstroy as well as of the entire tender process.
According to sources, Transstroy again submitted a letter issued by the Russian government, stating that its subsidiary, UES, had the experience of executing several projects in Russia. But top irrigation officials doubt the veracity of the fresh letter. "In an era of technology, one can even forge the letters of an embassy and its stamp," a top official of the department told Express.
The officials have decided, in principle, to forfeit the money paid by  Transstory. "We have decided to forfeit `45-crore earnest money deposit (EMD) and also put Transstroy on the black-list," the officer said.
The next bidder in the line is Madhucon, belonging to TDP's Nama Nageswara Rao. Madhucon quoted a price `35 crore more than Trnasstroy.
"The final decision will be taken by the high-power committee," the sources said. The High Court's verdict on the Polavaram tender row is expected to be delivered on Wednesday.
President Pranab Mukherjee will arrive in the city at 3 pm on Wednesday. If his flight is delayed and the High Court has not delivered its judgment by then, the committee meeting will be postponed. The chief secretary is supposed to receive the President.
"We have to follow the tender rules. If Madhucon is eligible for award of the contract, political factors will not come in the way," the sources in the irrigation minister's office said.

blurb
The firm is also likely to lose Rs 45-cr EMD as the veracity of its fresh experience certificate issued by Russian govt is also in doubt