Suspended IAS officer rigged ropeway tender, says Haridwar mayor | Meerut News
HARIDWAR: Former municipal commissioner of Haridwar Varun Chaudhari, who was suspended last month over irregularities in a land acquisition scam, has now been accused by mayor Kirann Jaisal of unilaterally altering eligibility conditions while floating the tender for operating and maintaining Mansa Devi ropeway.“The tender was issued and modified after I took over as mayor on Feb 7. Yet, the municipal board was not consulted,” Jaisal said on Saturday. The mayor claimed she was approached only when the deadline for submission was extended.Current municipal commissioner Nandan Kumar, who took charge on Feb 20, said the ropeway tender had already been floated and revised before he joined. “A fresh tender for the project will be floated soon,” he said.Kumar said based on the recommendations made on June 3 by a govt-appointed review committee, the original clause requiring a minimum of five years’ experience in ropeway operations and maintenance will be reinstated.When TOI contacted Chaudhari on Sunday, he said, “What was issued by the municipal corporation was an expression of interest (EOI). It invites all who may be interested… There are no eligibility conditions in an EOI and it does not carry strict rules or conditions. It is not a tender.”It was alleged that the changes were made to favour certain firms, which were ineligible as per original terms and conditions of the tender, said sources.
