Panambur Beach: Lapses in maintenance tender alleged

Mangaluru: The stakeholders from the tourism industry have alleged irregularities in the Panambur Beach maintenance tender floated by the department of tourism.
The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements rules (KTPP), 2000, Section 17, states that any tender must be advertised for 30 days, but in this case, it was done for only 15 days.
The tender was issued on July 19, and the last date is August 3. The tender duration is 10 years.
The stakeholders alleged that the tender rules have been blatantly tweaked to favour a potential bidder.
“The sole reason why we are against such a tender is that tourism in Mangaluru will never flourish and improve, if such wrong practices are done. The department concerned must withdraw the notification and issue a fresh one, or act as per KTPP rules. One cannot generate a digital key in 15 days to bid a tender,” alleged a tourism stakeholder.
The KTPP rules on minimum time for submission of tenders are, tender inviting authority shall ensure that adequate time is provided for the submission of tenders and the minimum time is allowed between the date of publication of the notice inviting tenders in the relevant tender bulletin, and the last date for submission of tenders. This minimum period shall be as follows: For tender up to Rs 2 crore in value, is 30 days. For tenders in excess of Rs 2 crore in value, is 30 days. Any reduction in the time stipulated under sub-rule, must be specifically authorised by an authority superior to the tender inviting authority, for reasons to be recorded in writing.
The stakeholder, on referring to the rules, said the current tender value of Panambur Beach development is around Rs 40 lakh, for 10 years. “My question to the district administration on behalf of all tourism stakeholders who wish to take part in the tender, is why there is a hurry by bypassing rules? Secondly, there is also a suspicion that these rules are not followed to favour a bidder who has already completed his groundwork on the tender,” the stakeholder said.
Last year, the same tender was floated for Rs 50 lakh, however, it did not happen. When TOI contacted Dakshina Kannada deputy commissioner K V Rajendra, he said it is done for administrative reasons and a short-term tender can be called. “If someone wants more time, the district administration can consider the same,” he added.
Tourism department deputy director Manikya maintained that last year a similar tender was called, but it had no takers. “So, this year we have called a short-term tender, which is allowed as per rules. If anyone has objections, they can approach us. Meanwhile, all litigations that were filed against the Panambur Beach development have been cleared. The 15-day tender is not issued to favour anyone,” he claimed.
Another person from the district tourism office alleged that the 15-day tender was issued as instructed by the deputy commissioner.