Batala Municipal Council had invited sealed tenders worth Rs 60 lakh on lump sum percentage rate basis from approved contractors for specified development works to be undertaken in the town by the executive officer, Municipal Council here.

These tenders were to be opened on February 10 at 12 noon. But the concerned staff were absent till 2 p.m.

Senior vice president Randhir Singh Osahan and vice president Piara Lal arrived at the venue and pacified the assembled contractors who were raising slogans against the MC. They also marked the absence of missing staff in the attendance register.

When the concerned staff reached the venue, the assembled contractors were told that tenders had been accepted.

Congress councillor Pawan Kumar Pamma has alleged that the tenders were opened at a contractor's place, 7 km away from the MC office. He further alleged that contractors, in connivance with MC officials, and got their desired rate fixed, causing a loss of several lakhs of rupees to the MC.

He asks if the MC did not want competition, why had the MC wasted the public money by publishing the tenders in the press thrice.

He alleged that the tenders were pooled in seemingly at the behest of the concerned officers.

Pamma alleged that alleged that the wards of Congress councillors were ignored while accepting in the tenders.

The MC has rejected the tenders and constituted a sub-committee of three councillors Randhir Singh Osahan, Harjit Singh Bhalla and Harinder Singh to conduct a probe into the tenders and submit their report in the House.