State’s CFL scheme finally sees light

R K Jain, Chairman of HPSEB told The Indian Express that offers have been sent to the lowest bidders for supply of the bulbs. “If the company responds to the rates approved by the Board, orders will be placed,” he said, speaking over phone from Delhi.

According to sources, HPL Socomec will get the first contract of 10 lakh bulbs, which the company will be required to supply in a pack of four blubs each. The company had quoted a rate of Rs 396 for pack of four but after negotiations the rate was brought down to Rs 387.

This is also the rate which the company had quoted against earlier tenders. HPL Socomec had raised objections against the rival companies earlier chosen for the supply orders.

Since state’s Chief Secretary Asha Swaroop was entrusted with the job to make sure that no new controversy was created, HPSEB even extended the dates for tenders twice to ensure participation of HPL-Socomec, which was given Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certification few days before finalisation of the tenders.

The company does not have the capacity to supply 72 lakh CFL bulbs of 0.85 PF by December 25, therefore, HPSEB has decided to send offers for nearly 6.3 lakh bulbs to Phoenix Lamps, which quoted the next lowest rates. “A senior HPSEB official informed me about the offer over the phone yesterday but I am not aware of the details yet,” said Pawan Sharma, General Manager of Phoenix Lamps.

Sharma regretted losing the bid to a company which had submitted BIS certificate at the fag end and only after date for tenders was extended. “ We really wonder how all this happened,” he said.

The HPSEB officials said, “By extending the tender dates we managed to break the cartel formed by some companies. It helped the board to get HPL- Socomec at the lowest rates.”

Five companies, instead of four earlier selected, had qualified for the supply orders this time.

The surprise being the HPL Socomec, which was earlier disqualified as it did not have the BIS certificate. Other companies in the race include Asian, Surya bulbs, Phoenix Lamps and Havells.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, who had launched the scheme, said, “ The government has tried to ensure full transparency in the matter. This an innovative scheme and no other state government has done this.”