Performance-based contract system mooted

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In order to assess the quality of works undertaken by the Public WorksDepartment (PWD), a Quality Control Sub-division would be formed in every district. This has been suggested in the revised draft manual published in the PWD website.“The PWD manual is being revised for the first time after 1972. Finance Department has cleared the revised draft, which is now waiting for Cabinet approval. The revision of manual was part of the Institutional StrengtheningAction Plan of PWD,” said PWD Minister V K Ebrahimkunju.  “The manual suggests performance-based contract system, where the maintenance will be guaranteed throughout the year,” he said. Bringing relief to the contractors, the manual suggests revision of amount if there is a hike in the price of petrol, diesel or bitumen. The contractors must submit quality certificate along with the bills. In order to attract more contractors to the PWD works, the manual states that contractors registered with any approved agency with enough qualification can participate in the bidding.Bridges Division will be formed in every two districts to assess the works of bridges. The draft manual also suggests  creating posts, which include appointment of municipal engineer in state-level and executive engineer in the district level. The manual also suggests adoption of modern technologies and establishment of field laboratory.Departments of Irrigation and Water supply have been removed from the department manual. General chief engineer has been excluded from the duty of preliminary assessment of works. He will have to assess quality, land acquisition etc. Estimate will be taken considering the specifications of Indian Roads Congress, Ministry of Road Transports and Highways and National Building Code.The revised draft manual has been published in the official website of PWD. Public can mail comments to [email protected], Kerala Government Contractors Association has raised displeasure over the revised draft manual. Association president Varghese Kannampally said the revised draft manual was old wine in a new bottle. “This has been created for the bureaucrats by the bureaucrats. Some suggestions are meant to create new posts. The new manualmust be one which could regain the lost credibility of the department. None of our suggestions were accepted,” he said.“Eighty percent of officials are engaged in paper works and have no idea about the ground realities. There must be a change to this system. We demand strengthening of section offices, which has direct contacts with the works,” he said.Poor allocation of funds is another problem affecting the quality of PWD works. The PWD rates are always less than the market rates. Also there is no mention of payment conditions, he said.But the contractors welcomed the initiative to change the amount according to price variation. The contractors will meet PWD Minister on December 21 and will discuss the issues.