Danam, Goud ignorant of bids: Peddi

Another controversy is brewing over the Polavaram project with Telangana Congress leaders demanding cancellation of the tenders because the lowest bids are too high.

Danam Nagender and Mukesh Goud called on the chief minister at Secretariat and told him that they suspect that the lowest bidders Soma-CGGC and Sew-Patel formed a cartel to boost the bids higher than the sums quotes in the last round of the keep the bids quoted higher rates than what they quote in the previous round of abortive bidding last year. They said that if the present tenders were finalised, the government would stand to lose Rs 800 crore. They contended that though the scheduled rates were not changed in the last one year, the two companies quoted higher rates this time. Major irrigation minister Peddi Sudharshan Reddy dismissed their reservations, remarking that some of the ministers in the Cabinet lacked even a minimum knowledge of the Polavaram tender process.