Projects worth Rs 100 crore to be placed before Cabinet

In a bid to bring better transparency, Odisha Government has decided to place the projects proposals worth over Rs 100 crore before the cabinet for approval, officials said today.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has asked the officials to suitably amendment the Odisha Public Works Department (OPWD) Code.
"Finalisation of Tender for the work costing Rs 100 crore and more, will be placed before the Cabinet of the State Government for approval, prior to acceptance of tender," a circular issued by the works department secretary N K Pradhan said.
All the departments including Works, Water Resources, Rural Development, Urban Development, Panchayati Raj and others will send the tender worth Rs 100 Crore Plus proposals to Cabinet for approval.

Though, all the government departments presently issue e-Tenders in order to maintain transparency, the State Cabinet was not informed about the major tenders, pointed out a senior minister adding that under the changed circumstances the cabinet would be aware of the major projects.
The state government's action follows the Centre's recent decision which said that the projects worth Rs 1000 crore or above would be placed before the Union Cabinet.