Solar service provider cries foul at Mangalore varsity contract favour

Solar service provider cries foul at Mangalore varsity contract favour

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, July 7,2017: A Bengaluru-based company, for solar panels manufacturing, has alleged violation of norms in awarding the contract of solar power at Mangalore University campus at Konaje on the outskirts of the city.

The company representatives have warned of filing a Lokayukta complaint, if justice is not done to them.

According to Jagadish Chandra, director of Greensol Renewable Power Pvt Limited, Peenya Industrial Area, Bengaluru, having a consortium agreement with National Small Industries Corporation Limited (NSIC), a Government of India enterprise, the university authorities have favoured highest bidder against the lowest bidder.

The lowest bidder in this case, NSIC, had quoted rates for Rs 1.88 crore against Rs 2.13 crore of Matrix Technologies Inc.

However, the latter with differentiating price of Rs 25.24 lakh won the bid, Shetty has charged in a set of documents released to media.

A total of three companies had bid for the project, while the afore mentioned two were technically qualified, NSIC was rejected in the later stage.

Another bidder, Unipar Energy Systems Pvt Ltd failed in technical qualification.

VC’s reaction

Vice chancellor K Byrappa, who outrightly rejected any irregularities in finalising the contract, attributed the decision to consider Matrix Technologies to the recommendation of a panel of third party experts from out of the state at the central level.

As is the rule, the experts committee will vet each and every aspects of the tender and award scores. Those who rank highest in the tally of scores will be considered for implementing the project, the criterion followed in each and every projects.

Denying that the lowest bid is the sole criterion for awarding the contracts, the VC said quality of work counts over the price quotations. The university authorities have not meddled with the finalisation of the contract, he added.

The solarisation of Mangalore University campus is planned at an estimated cost of Rs 2.5 crore. It includes solar street lights, hostel lights and other facilities on the campus.