SHILLONG: The Minister in charge of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Sanbor Shullai, has firmly ruled out the possibility of cancelling the current Open Tender issued for the construction of the State Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Hospital at Upper Shillong.
This statement from the Minister comes as a direct response to a memorandum submitted by the All Meghalaya Contractors and Suppliers Association (AMCSA).
The association has demanded the immediate cancellation of the ongoing mega tender, urging the government to floating a fresh tender using a split-package system instead.
The AMCSA argued that putting out the massive estimated ₹60 crore project under a single massive tender effectively disqualifies and blocks local tribal contractors of the state from participating due to the high financial eligibility criteria.
Speaking to media persons regarding the representation, Minister Shullai confirmed that an AMCSA delegation had met with him to request the cancellation. However, he stated that he could not give any assurance to halt or scrap the process since it is an Open Tender.
He clarified that any contractor who is eligible and fulfills the criteria laid down in the official notice is free to participate in the bidding process. He added that since it is a transparent open competition, no one is barred from submitting a bid, and the final decision on awarding the contract will rest entirely with the departmental Tender Committee after the submission window closes.
The Minister also shared that the tender was floated more than a month ago, and the final date for submission of bids is fixed for July 5, 2026.
Addressing allegations that the single-package tender was designed to favor specific influential individuals close to power, Shullai strongly denied the claims.
He stated that if the department already had pre-selected candidates, there would have been no need to issue an official Open Tender. He reiterated that all government-registered contractors are welcome to compete as long as they satisfy the guidelines, and the Tender Committee will fairly evaluate every application.
On the other hand, the AMCSA, led by its president Precious Sumer, highlighted that while they wholeheartedly welcome the government’s initiative to upgrade veterinary healthcare infrastructure for the benefit of livestock farmers across Meghalaya, the current model of procurement is exclusionary.
The association stressed that bundling the entire ₹60 crore project into one single package prevents capable local contractors—who possess the technical skill for specific parts of the project but lack the massive capital required for the whole layout—from bidding.
The association has formally suggested that the project should be broken down into smaller packages, such as separate tenders for site development and earthworks, retaining walls, internal roads, drainage systems, and staff quarters.
According to the AMCSA, adopting a split-package system would encourage healthy competition, allow multiple components of the project to progress simultaneously, generate local employment, and ensure that the economic benefits of the project stay within the state’s economy.
The association concluded by appealing to the Minister to put the current bidding process on hold and restructure the tender to give local stakeholders an equal opportunity.
