Tehri Hydro moves SC against cartelisation in tender matter

Tehri Hydro Development Corporation has moved the Supreme Court seeking protection from cartelisation by French and German multinationals in a tender matter.

It has challenged the Uttarakhand High Court's decision that asked it to go for rebidding for its pump storage plant project for lack of clarity in the tender.

Both Alstom Hydro France and Germany-based Voith Siemens Hydro Kraftwerkstechnik Gmbh Co had qualified in the pre-bid stage. However, the German company's bid was found to be the lowest.

A Bench headed by Justice B N Agarwal refused interim relief and posted the matter for hearing on July 27 after Attorney General G E Vahanvati requested an early hearing.

Tehri, while contending that rebidding would delay the project by another six months, apprehended that the two multinationals as lead members of the consortia would get together and submit revised inflated bids, something that would be contrary not only to its interests but also to the those of the public.

According to the petitioner, it has no objection to fresh bidding provided the quotation in the rebidding is not more than the lowest bid, given by the German major.