SHILLONG, JUN 26: Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Sanbor Shullai on Friday made it clear that the government will not cancel the open tender for the veterinary hospital at Upper Shillong, despite a petition from the Meghalaya Contractor Supplier Association seeking its withdrawal.
“The Meghalaya Contractor Supplier Association submitted a petition to me, as the Minister, to cancel the tender for the hospital at Upper Shillong,” Shullai said.
“On that, I cannot give any assurance to cancel or not to cancel, because an open tender has been floated.”
He stressed that all qualified contractors are eligible to bid and the decision rests with the tender committee.
“All those who are eligible, who are capable, and who meet the criteria cannot be barred. Anyone can participate. So the question of cancellation does not arise. As they want it cancelled, that will not arise,” he said.
Shullai said he had asked the association to join the process instead.
“They came here and I told them to participate. It is now up to the tender committee to decide to whom it will be allotted,” he said.Explaining why an open tender was issued, the minister said,
“It does not arise, because if we already had our own people, we would not need to call a tender. That is why this is an open tender. Everybody’s free to participate.”
“All government-registered contractors, as per the criteria or conditions laid down, if they qualify, they can submit and participate. It is then up to the tender committee to examine and decide on the documents, whichever are proper from all sides, as is practiced in all other states. We follow the same practice,” he added.
The proposed facility will be equipped with all essential services for animal care.
“For the hospital, it will have all the incentives required for a hospital, including fencing, water, electricity. The hospital building must have everything to treat sick animals,” Shullai said.
He pegged the project cost at roughly Rs 60 crore and said the bidding window closes soon.
“I do not remember exactly, but it is around Rs 60 crore. This tender was floated not less than a month ago and it will close on July 5,” he said.
