Bokaro: The Jharkhand Contractors Association has accused the Health Department of irregularities in a local tender process, raising alarms about potential favoritism and violations of established procedures.
On Monday, the association convened a press conference in Bokaro, led by President Pramod Kumar, to highlight concerns surrounding the tender.
According to association members, they had initially sought clarification on the tender details from the district’s Civil Surgeon. However, they were informed that the conditions were set by the Deputy Commissioner, who was unavailable for comment due to being on an area tour.
The association has since voiced strong criticisms of the tender, alleging it was crafted to benefit a specific agency. Key points of contention include an unusually short ten-day timeline for submissions, which coincided with major holidays, and the inclusion of an unconventional 50-point work presentation requirement—criteria that the association claims have never been seen in state-level tenders before.
Further raising concerns, the association pointed to the Deputy Commissioner’s decision to handle the tender offline, in clear violation of Jharkhand Health Department guidelines, which mandate that all tenders be processed online, as per instructions from the Principal Secretary.
Kumar expressed frustration over the lack of response to a formal meeting request sent on March 12, and announced that the association would be meeting with the Principal Secretary on Tuesday to report the alleged irregularities. He also stated plans to escalate the matter to the Chief Minister, accusing the Deputy Commissioner of undermining governance by disregarding official directives.
Secretary Shrevesh Singh, who also attended the press conference, underscored the need for transparency and accountability in the tendering process.
