BAI condemns Legislators' criticism

Puducherry, May 25 (UNI) The Builders Association of India, Puducherry chapter, today took strong exception to Legislators A Anbazhagan and K Lakshminarayanan criticising them sharply, stating that it was an added insult to the contractors, already hit hard by the rising material costs.

Addressing a press conference here, Association Chairman A Manickam and Secretary N S J Jayakumar clarified that the contractors were not against floating of e-tenders, but only fighting for their rights as the CPWD manual stated that tenders below Rs two crore should be given to contractors registered in Puducherry. It was not fair to provide such tenders to outsiders as the contractors registered here could not work outside, they said.

It may be recalled here that the Legislators had alleged that the contractors, in connivance with Government officials, were swindling public money by quoting 20 to 40 per cent inflated estimate for every project and had formed a syndicate for the same.

UNI