CM for briefing on irregularities in APAIDC tenders

The case of the irregularities committed by the head of the AP Agro-industries Development Corporation in the tenders’ invitation for supply of some bio-products for 2011-2012 took a serious turn on Saturday with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy instructing the officials concerned in the CMO to further brief him on the controversial subject.

The Managing Director of the APAIDC, who is the wife of Civil Supplies Minister D Sridhar Babu, had floated four tenders for supply of bio-products, fertilizers, micronutrients, controlling agents and chemical pesticides without prior information and disregarding the prescribed guidelines laid down by the Central government.

It is understood that the supply of material mostly pertaining to Horticulture Department which has authorized the nodal agency, APAIDC, for supply of all inputs required for the crops allowing 6 per cent service charge which is uncalled for.

Instead, the horticulture department could have directly invited tenders to save the said 6 percent tax to the advantage of the farmers.

“As per the Centre’s guidelines, only Horticulture Department was entitled to call tenders and supply the said products to the farmers directly which had been the practice in the country,” stated MP Sarvey Satyanarayana.

The APAIDC MD, who after inviting tenders for supply of the cited products last year cancelled the tenders thrice for reasons known to her, which resulted in the companies to move the Court.

It was also found that the terms as laid down in the contract were not framed as per the guidelines formulated by the central vigilance commission due to which reputed companies refused to participate in the tenders.