The Delegated Management and Government Assurance Committee under the National Assembly on Wednesday has inquired the concerned side about complaints registered against the awarding of the contract to construct the phase two work under the Tarai-Madhes Fast Track.
The meeting was attended by secretary of the Ministry of Defence and representatives of Public Procurement Monitoring Office and Nepali Army. Complaints had been filed stating that there had been misappropriations in bidding process relating to prequalified in selecting the bids.
The meeting was called to inquire about the complaints, said the Committee's Chair Ram Narayan Bidari. "Bidding was announced to prequalify competing companies. It appeared 20 or 21 international companies had applied for the contract. However, it has been found that only two companies have been selected. The Committee has called the meeting to inquire as a situation has been created that other companies have been denied application for bidding for the national pride project along with financial proposal," he said.
The Committee however did not issue any direction in this regard. "The Committee can provide advice and direct when it finds that the process has gone against the law. We are in discussions," he said.
However, Nepali Army has claimed that the prequalified determination process to construct tunnel of the project has been in line with the law. In the meeting, Colonel Sunil Singh Rathour maintained that the bidding process was transparent and in line with the Public Procurement Act.
On the occasion, stating that Nepali Army has worked day and night to complete the national pride project, defence secretary Reshmi Raj Pandey viewed that the Army should be encouraged to complete the project on time instead of discouraging it. "Nepali Army is not exempt of delaying the project. We are committed to proceeding the procurement process transparently and in line with laws. The Army is also committed to it," he said.
Source: National News Agency Nepal
