In a significant move, the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) on Wednesday resolved to invite tenders for the supply of blades required at its Kalyanakatta at Tirumala where over 600 barbers work round-the-clock all through the year. The TTD has also resolved to invite e-tenders on March 12.
The development comes in response to the reports published in these columns with regard to the alleged kickbacks and delay in inviting tenders during last month.
The image of the institution was sullied with complaints pouring in that the stipulations and parameters in the procurement process were repeatedly altered to favour the bidders of their choice.
Further to make things worse, the bidders whose samples were rejected by the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) on the grounds of poor quality were surprisingly awarded work orders on nomination basis. The annual requirement of the TTD is put around 70 lakh blades. TTD EO D. Sambasiva Rao constituted a high level committee to come out with proper recommendations.
