Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur has levelled serious allegations against the Sukhu-led HP government, accusing it of manipulating the tender process in the Fina Singh Irrigation Project, a centrally funded scheme, to benefit select contractors at the cost of public money.
Addressing the media from Shimla, Thakur claimed that the government’s decision to bar joint ventures from the bidding process has limited competition, allowing a few favored companies to dominate the tender. “This manipulation has pushed the tender value of a ₹297 crore project above ₹304 crore, causing a potential loss of ₹75–90 crore to the state exchequer,” he stated.
Thakur further alleged that companies being considered for the project lack prior experience in dam construction, raising concerns about project quality. He compared the move to earlier decisions by the current government, such as the controversial appointment of a company previously involved in selling phenyl for nursing recruitment — a decision questioned by the High Court.
Jai Ram Thakur urged the government to halt the tender process, remove the restrictive provisions favoring select bidders, and re-tender the project with global-level transparency and inclusivity to invite more competitive bids. He also demanded a probe into who modified the tender conditions and for whose benefit.
The Opposition leader highlighted that under central agencies like NHAI and BRO, most tenders are awarded at 25–30% below the estimated cost due to transparent procedures and inclusion of joint ventures. “The Fina Singh project, funded under the Prime Minister’s Agriculture Irrigation Scheme (AIBP), should follow similar standards,” he said.
The Fina Singh Irrigation Project, approved in August last year under the Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme, is funded 90% by the Centre and 10% by the state. The Centre has already released the first installment of ₹67.5 crore. Once completed, it will benefit over 4,025 hectares of land and 60 villages in Sulyali, bringing irrigation and agricultural transformation to the region.
