Bihar: 350 contracts totaling ₹826 crore that were awarded by the previous RJD-led “Mahagathbandhan” have been canceled by the NDA government in Bihar.
Bihar: A minister announced on Tuesday that the NDA government in Bihar has revoked 350 contracts worth ₹826 crore that were given out for the provision of potable water in rural areas during the previous RJD-led “Mahagathbandhan” regime in the state.
He claimed that “irregularities in the process of selecting contractors” were discovered during an investigation by the Public Health Engineering Department, which led to the decision to revoke the contracts.
“The department awarded numerous contracts during the previous RJD-led grand alliance government in the state. 350 contracts worth ₹826 crore were awarded without following the proper procedures, according to a government investigation. These have to do with installing hand pumps and small water delivery systems in rural areas, among other things, according to PHED Minister Niraj Kumar Singh.
According to him, the department has given the preliminary inquiry report to the state government’s responsible body for a comprehensive investigation.
He stated, “I recently called a meeting of senior officials of the department after getting the report, and later the cancellation order was issued,” threatening to take severe measures against anybody found responsible.
Lalit Yadav, the leader of the RJD, served as the state’s PHED minister in the previous grand alliance administration.
According to Singh, the previous government gave the PHE department 1,160 contracts totaling ₹4,600 crore in just 17 months.
“We have so far cancelled 350 contracts, the remaining are being examined,” he stated.
Nonetheless, the minister declined to provide specifics regarding the purported anomalies that the department found.
“As the matter is being investigated by a competent authority, it is not appropriate to divulge the details at this time,” he stated.
A maximum of 106 contracts pertaining to rural water delivery systems have been terminated, with Banka district topping the list, according to papers made available. Jamui (73), Lakhisarai (20), Aurangabad (18), and Ara (11) are next on the list.
RJD state unit spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary made the following statement in response to the Bihar government’s decision to revoke the PHE department’s contracts: “BJP leaders and Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are afraid of our leader Tejashwi Yadav.” The prior ‘Mahagathbandhan’ government in the state had implemented a number of people-friendly initiatives and made important decisions like giving jobs to 7-8 lakh young people and social security to the less fortunate members of society.”
The impact of the welfare schemes implemented by the previous government, which helped lakhs of people in the state, has also “scared” the NDA allies, he said.
“RJD is unafraid of any investigation.Permit them to do what they please (the NDA government),” he continued.
In tiny habitats and wards, the PHE department is in charge of making sure that hand pumps and little water supply systems are installed.
Recall that in January of this year, Nitish Kumar severed his links with the RJD and rejoined the NDA.
An order to review all the decisions made by the departments commanded by previous deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav and then two RJD ministers, Lalit Yadav and Ramanand Yadav, was issued shortly after the creation of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government in the state.
The Cabinet Secretariat requested that representatives from the departments of health, road building, urban development, and rural works examine the choices made during the state’s last grand alliance government in a letter sent in February of this year.