SHILLONG: Two major contractor associations, the Ri-Bhoi Government Contractor and suppliers Association (RBGCSA) and the All Meghalaya Contractor and Suppliers Association (AMCSA), met with the Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the portfolio for the Public Works Department (PWD), to demand changes in the tender policy and to express their deep concern over delayed payment of bills.
The RBGCA, led by Plielad Tiewsoh, urged the government to introduce a policy to break down large tender packages to ensure that small contractors also get work.
Issue of Large Packages: Tiewsoh stated that the current practice of calling for large tender packages (big packages) allows only wealthy individuals to bid, marginalizing local small-scale contractors. He noted that this was a recent development, as previously, the Chief Engineer (CE), Superintending Engineer (SE), and Executive Engineer (EE) all had the authority to call for tenders, ensuring wider participation.
Following the meeting with Deputy CM Prestone Tynsong, Tiewsoh informed the press that the Deputy CM assured them the matter would be taken seriously. He further committed that by 2026, the government would move towards Open Tenders for all contractors and reinstate the power of the CE, EE, and SE to call for tenders.
The association also requested that all works be transparent and clean, demanding a ban on ‘Close Tenders’ as they lead to issues and favouritism. They stressed that all tenders should be announced via official Notification.
Opposition to ‘In Advance’ Work: Tiewsoh voiced strong opposition to work being done ‘in advance’ and through ‘Close Tenders.’
The RBGCSA also met with the Minister of Water Resources, Metbah Lyngdoh, regarding unpaid bills. Tiewsoh highlighted the plight of contractors in the Ri-Bhoi region who have not received payments for works under the Water Resources Department (receiving bills only once in March) and even for the centrally-sponsored Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) scheme.
The Deputy CM has reportedly promised to visit Delhi soon to discuss the issue of delayed JJM payments. Tiewsoh warned that if the promises are not fulfilled, the association will explore other avenues.
Protest on Soil Conservation Tender: The association also strongly protested a recent Soil Conservation tender worth ₹27 crore, which was awarded to a single contractor. They have since met with the District Soil Officer to ask for the work to be halted and have informed the Deputy CM.
AMCSA Alleges Malpractice in Large Packages
The All Meghalaya Contractor and Suppliers Association (AMCSA), led by President Precious Syiem, echoed the concerns, alleging that the government’s practice of introducing large ‘Packages’ is driven by the vested interest of certain individuals who want to execute schemes alone.
Vested Interest Allegation: Syiem alleged that the large packages are a deliberate move, affecting small local contractors. He stated that even state-funded schemes are being packaged in large sizes, indicating a pre-planned intention to execute them by a select few. The Deputy CM has promised to address this issue.
The AMCSA raised the issue of extremely late bill clearance, stating that every year, contractors receive their bills around the 22nd or 23rd of the month, which is often a holiday, resulting in payments being received only by January. This financial delay impacts contractors’ ability to spend money for Christmas and New Year. The Minister assured them he would speak with the Finance Department to ensure timely release of bills.
They also raised an objection to the proposed relocation of the Central Division office from Barik to Madanriting, arguing it would cause difficulty for government staff, officers, and contractors due to heavy traffic congestion. They urged the government to reconsider the move.
The association also discussed the practice of clubbing schemes together. They cited a successful court case they fought in 2012, where the court directed the separation of schemes, which brought down the package value from above ₹40 crore to around ₹3 crore, enabling smaller contractors to participate.
Deputy CM’s Stance on Scheme Division: Syiem presented this example to the Deputy CM, who promised to instruct officers to look into segregating both state-funded and central-funded schemes, where feasible, to provide work to local contractors. The Minister also committed to holding a meeting on this issue but noted that while state-funded projects can be easily segregated, it is difficult to change the terms for large Central Government projects.
