In order to check irregularities in execution of development projects in TMAs and ensuring transparency, Punjab CM Shahbaz Sharif has approved certain amendments in the TMA Works Rules 2003.
Under the amendments, it was made mandatory upon the engineer concerned to visit the site personally, take photographs of the site and make them part of the rough cost estimate/PC-1. Presently, the District Development Committee (DCC) was competent to accord administrative approval to development schemes costing up to Rs 20 million but the limit was enhanced from Rs 20 million to 50 million. Presently a contractor registered with one TMA could not take part in the tendering process of another TMA but now any registered contractor would be able to take part in the tendering process in all TMAs in a district. It was made mandatory upon TMAs to issue tender forms to all registered contractors free of cost while the tender forms will also be available on website of the Local Government & Community Development Department (LG&CD). Presently, various authorities were competent to approve registration of contractors but now a committee of the TMA would be formed to approve registration of contractors under different categories. According to the amended rules, it was made mandatory to publish tenders in at least two national daily newspapers through DGPR. Punjab Local Government Secretary Khizar Hayat Gondal said that the department proposed amendments in the TMA Works Rules 2003 to rule out chances of corruption and make development schemes more transparent and the CM approved the same. No one would be able to get funds released against ghost schemes, as a strict check was ensured through physical inspection and photographs of the site by the engineer concerned, he said. Gondal said that no underhand approval and tendering would be possible, as government had made it mandatory to publish the tender in national daily newspapers.
