KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday refused to stay the tender proceedings for awarding the contract to remove waste from East and West Kochi regions and to segregate plastic and biodegradable waste. The court passed the order on a petition filed by one of the contractors challenging the tender conditions. The court also suggested the Kochi Corporation to consider the representation submitted by the petitioner before finalising the procedures.
The civic body decided to invite separate bids for the two city regions following a directive issued by the auditors of the local fund audit. While inviting the bids, it was also specified in the conditions separate quotations detailing the cost for the removal of plastic and solid waste had to be furnished. However, the petitioner moved the court challenging the tender provisions and demanded the bids for plastic and solid waste should be clubbed together.
He also pleaded before the court the contractor who submitted the combined and lowest quote for plastic and solid waste should be awarded the contract.