Decision on mandatory e-tendering to be reconsidered: Mah govt

The Maharashtra government today said it will re-consider its decision of making e-tendering compulsory for projects worth over Rs 3 lakh.
State Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Chandrakant Patil announced this in the Legislative Council today during the Question Hour.
During the discussion initiated by group leader Sunil Tatkare, the Opposition demanded that the government should withdraw its decision of making e-tendering compulsory for development projects worth over Rs 3 lakh.
Replying to Tatkare, the minister said the government will not go back on its decision taken on December 18.
Annoyed over Patil's reply, the Opposition created a ruckus and relenting to their pressure, the minister said the issue would be taken up in the Cabinet meeting and the government will do a rethink on its decision.

The state government had launched the e-tendering process in 2010 following allegations of corruption in the manual tendering process.

In the beginning, e-tendering was applicable for schemes and projects worth Rs 50 lakh and above. However, in 2013, the amount was brought down to Rs 10 lakh.
According to the Government Resolution (GR) issued on December 18, the new norm (about Rs 3 lakh worth projects) is applicable to all departments of the state government, urban and rural local self-government bodies like gram panchayats and zilla parishads and corporations.
Divisional Commissionerate, District Collectorate, Zilla Parishad, Panchayat Samiti and corporations like MSRDC, VIDC, MPCB etc also have to adopt the new norm.