Sand mining tender for three ghats of the district has been canceled again due to contractors quoting far below the government’s fixed rate.
JAMSHEDPUR – In a recurring development, the tender for sand lifting from three ghats in the district has been canceled for the second time.
The decision came as contractors continued to quote rates significantly below the government’s stipulated price, leading to the cancellation by the tender committee led by Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav.
This time, a total of 12 agencies submitted their tenders.
The lowest rate quoted was Rs 19 per cubic meter, falling significantly short of the government’s fixed rate of Rs 83 per cubic meter.
In the previous round, the minimum rate was quoted at Rs 11.90.
The repeated cancellations indicate that the administration’s efforts to persuade contractors have yet to yield results.
On May 27, Jaideep Tigga, senior in-charge of ADC cum mining, held a meeting with the contractors, urging them to adhere to the fixed rate during tender submissions.
It may be added here that these sand ghats are to be managed by the Jharkhand State Mineral Development Corporation.
The corporation has set a rate of Rs 83 per cubic meter for lifting sand from the ghats and transporting it to the stock yard, which implies that one tractor load of sand taken to the stock yard would yield Rs 249 for the contractor.
