TN Govt to procure colour TVs from 3 firms: Minister

Chennai, July 28 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government has decided to procure 30,000 colour television sets from Videocon, Kitchen Appliances and Dixon Technologies for the first phase implementation of 'free colour TV scheme,' Local Administration Minister M K Stalin told the State Assembly today.

Making a suo motu statement in the House, he said Videocon Industries Limited, New Delhi, would supply 15,000 sets, while Kitchen Appliances Indian Limited, Mumbai and Dixon Technologies Inida Pvt Ltd, Noida, would supply 7,500 sets each.

All the three companies had agreed to supply the sets at the rate of Rs 2,965 per piece within the stipulated time, he added.

Mr Stalin said the committee of legislators, constituted to decide on the national tenders for procuring the TV sets, met last evening under Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and selected the three firms.

He said the Electronics Corporation of Tamil Nadu (ELCOT) floated a national tender to procure TV sets for the first phase of the scheme and bids from ten companies were received.

The bids were opened on July 24 in the presence of bidders and officials and it was found that Videocon Industries had quoted a lowest rate of Rs 3088.55.

On further negotiations, the three companies agreed to reduce the rate to Rs 2,965, while the others informed in writing that they could not offer TV sets at such a rate, Mr Stalin said.

He said the Committee of legislators had unanimously accepted the decision and given the approval for further action.

The government had made a budgetary allocation of Rs 750 crore for the implementation of the scheme and decided to procure TVs through international open competitive bidding for the next phase.

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