Shillong, July 22: NEIGHRIMS official attempt to defend the purchase of heavy medical equipment through an outside based firm without trade licence from the council. KHNAM Youth Wing President Mr Thomas Passah state that the clarification is very much unsatisfactory.
The President of KHNAM Youth Wing said that first like to correct that they are not an NGO but a regional political party, they have raised objection regarding the purchase of two units of Air Decontamination by the NEIGHRHIMS through an outside firm without the trade licence.
Moreover KHNAM have express doubts formal practice while finalising the tender for purchase of the said equipment because the local bidder with a less quoted price was not selected instead the outside firm with a much higher firm was selected.
They are very much aware that the equipment is not manufactured in the country and any firm selected will have to import the said equipment from outside the country.
KHNAM Youth Wing president alleged that the officiating director of NEIGHRHIMS has carelessly used the support of the present emergency situation and the safety of the medical staff of NEIGRHIMS for justification.
KHNAM are aware that the Air Decontamination is required for the safety of the medical staff of the hospital, and we are not complaining! its purchase, what we objected to is the way an outside firm with a high bid amount was preferred over the local firm with low bid amount which makes us believe that there might be an internal management for personal benefits which amounts to corruption.
The justification regarding non availability of a trade licence wherein the officiating director has stated that “the company supplying the equipment had called up the KHADC office but there was no one attend to the phone calls” it is to informed the concerned that there is a procedure in hand for applying trade licence and “a phone call” in not one of the procedure” . We urged upon the council to make a legal stand on the said comments of the officiating director of NEIGRHIMS.
The hospital authority has admitted that “the rule in NEIGRIHMS says clearly that any company tendering for any supply or work has to have a trading licence”. It is clear that the company/firm do not have the trade licence therefore the tender should be cancelled and others be given preference.
There are other points and details that are being verified by the party with respect to tender(s) issued by the NEIGRHIMS and any findings will be highlighted at the appropriate time. Said MrThomas Passah President KHNAM Youth Wing in the press statement.
