Around 500 activists, residents and NGO representatives staged a protest in the city on Sunday demanding transparency in awarding tender for government projects. At the protest organised by Arappor Iyakkam, the participants also demanded the setting up of Lokayukta in the State.
The protest was primarily organised against those involved in the scam in purchase of coal by the Tangedco. Going by the data on the import of huge quantities of coal between 2012 and 2016 by the State government, Arappor Iyakkam found a 25% difference between the market price and the purchase cost.
The activists urged the government to form a Special Investigation Team to probe the scam and publish all data online, including tender, purchase order, comparative statement with market price, etc. Stressing the need for dissemination of data on all tenders documents, the participants said the public must know about such transactions.
Arappor Iyakkam convenor Jayaram Venkatesan alleged that tax payers’ money to the tune of ₹3,000 crore was swindled by a few businessmen, politicians and bureaucrats. Its treasurer P. Nakkeeran explained the need for independent investigating institutions like Lokpal and Lokayukta to curb corruption.
