Oppn flags tender process amid row over Raia works

Margao: A day after a row erupted between the Raia sarpanch and the panchayat secretary over delayed developmental works, opposition members rejected claims of political interference and alleged irregularities in the tender process.
Former sarpanch Xavier Fernandes, leading the opposition, said on Saturday that the slowdown in developmental works stemmed from procedural lapses rather than political motivations.
“There are serious discrepancies in the tender process that warrant thorough verification. The allegations of political interference are unfounded,” Fernandes said.
The opposition alleged several irregularities in the tendering process, including suspicious patterns in contractors’ quotations. “Almost all contractors quoted nearly identical amounts for specified works, raising red flags about possible manipulation of tender documents,” Fernandes said.
He also alleged violations of tender-opening procedures, saying that “only one or two persons were present during the opening of quotations, which clearly violates established rules”.
The controversy extends to works undertaken under the finance commission, with the opposition alleging non-compliance with prescribed regulations. This follows Friday’s protest led by sarpanch Mario Souza, who accused the newly appointed panchayat secretary of deliberately obstructing developmental projects.
“If the sarpanch feels aggrieved, he should approach the director of panchayats instead of pressuring the panchayat secretary,” Fernandes said.
Panchayat secretary Amrit Sakhalkar defended his actions, citing the need to address procedural violations in the existing system.
The various developmental projects affected include road repairs, hotmixing works, and pre-monsoon preparations. Payments to daily wage workers maintaining the panchayat playground were also affected.