Project dilemma

As Karnataka gears up for Assembly elections, tenders for public works are issued in full steam

Election time means promises to keep for elected representatives. As Karnataka gears up for the crucial Assembly elections next year, tenders for public works and irrigation projects are being issued in full steam. In one instance of a project for drip irrigation that could potentially take three years to implement, a minister directed vendors bidding for the project to work on shorter timelines — a maximum of one year. Several vendors are stuck between the devil and the deep sea: If they take up the project, they need to commit to “unrealistic” timelines; if they don’t, they are at risk of losing the multi-crore project.