No tender from Rs 1. Lakh to 5 lakh to be called by PWD

Himachal Pradesh High court recently snubbed State public works department for not completing a budgeted roads since 2019. However a notification issued by the Secretary Public Works Department today put an embargo on calling of all tenders between one to five lakh. The letter sent to EnC PWD mention that no tender between one to five lakh amount should be call till March 31, 2023. ” I am directed to refer to subject cited above and to say that no tender for works between Rs. 1.00 to 5.00 lakh shall be called till 31.03.2023. You are, therefore, directed to circulate instructions in this regard to field functionaries for strict compliance with immediate effect.” Secy PWD said in a one page letter issued today . You are, therefore, directed to circulate instructions in this regard to field functionaries for strict compliance with immediate effect. “. The Secy PWD has been directed by the high court on January 5 that Officer should furnish details of all the cases or projects being carried out by the PWD where budgetary allocations have been made along with status report or stage of such projects. This matter was also listed before division bench of justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and justice Verinder Singh on Thursday . The counsel for state and Advocate general Anoop Vaid submitted the report before court. State accepted that despite having budgetary provision construction work was hampered by short supply of cement by the closing down of two major cement plants. Court observed in an order passed in Theog case today that in compliance to order dated 05.01.2023, the respondent has filed his personal affidavit. Court now fixed March 17 next date of hearing and appreciate the efforts made by the (2nd) respondent in compiling this voluminous data. Court directed the Department to filed fresh status of the projects which are otherwise scheduled to be completed by 31st March, 2023. Today in the double bench of the High Court Chief Justice, Mr. AA Syed and Justice Jyotsna Rehwal Dua, the case of Ambuja Cement Factory was listed. AG stated before the court that a meeting has been held today. AG prayed the bench to grant more time. Now court has deferred next date tomorrow to submit the reply. It is worthwhile to mention that on Wednesday PWD portfolio was allotted to Vikramaditya Singh and charge of PWD to Sanjay Awasthi. All development works remained pending from Oct 14 , 2022 to December 10, 2022 as for Assembly Election MCC had been enforced in the state. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also denotified the as many as 940 Institutions opened by Jai Ram Thakur Government.