The Rs 1,670 crore Krishna phase-III project expected to bring an additional 90 million gallons of water every day to the city has run into trouble even before the project has taken off.
The Water Board had invited tenders for the execution of Krishna phase-III. However, only nation-wide tenders were floated on e-bidding platform, instead of going for global tenders. Sources said even the tender conditions were relaxed to suit a few companies.
One of the ministers from the city with political backing is reportedly interested in the contract going to some select agencies.
Though the e-tenders are likely to be opened on or after October 10, sources said the game plan is to split and ensure that select companies will get two packages each, given that Krishna phase-III has been divided into 10 packages.
If global tenders are called, there is every possibility of international players in joint venture with local players bidding 15 per cent less, which is a normal practice.
But in this case, there is scope for the companies to quote 15 per cent more, thereby causing a loss of over Rs 300 crore to the Water Board.
Meanwhile, even the workers unions have started raising their voice against the alleged tender scam.
Hyderabad Water Works and Sewerage Kamgar Union working president C. Satish Kumar and chief VP B. Satish Reddy sought a probe into the “multi-crore scam” by vigilance and ACB.
Earlier, MD Adhar Sinha was transferred because he did not toe the line of powers that be. Just a day after the new MD took charge of the Board, tenders for phase-III were called, they said.
Water Board chief general manager (projects) Rameshwar Rao, however, brushed aside the allegations as baseless.