VIJAYAWADA: At the cost of the state exchequer, the AP government has decided to “gift” the TD cadre by doing away with tenders for works below Rs 5 lakh.

Ahead of the festive season, the municipal administration department has issued an order that works up to Rs 5 lakh can be taken up on a nomination basis without tenders.

It was to minimise corruption, the department had made it mandatory that the commissioner of municipality or corporation should call for tenders for works of more than Rs 1 lakh.

The government now raised the bar to Rs 5 lakh. In the latest order, the government has also allowed to award the works to ward committees, Dwcra groups, resident welfare associations and committees formed by the corporators.

The corporators are free to form committee with members from self-help groups, a bill collector, sanitary inspector and others to get the work.

YSR Congress floor leader in Vijayawada Municipal Council Bandi Nagendra Punyaseela said, “We doubt that this is a conspiracy to award the works to the TD cadres and their supporters.

But, no party can object to the welfare associations getting works. Actually some ruling party councillors will be behind all these associations. We demand that the government make it mandatory to get quality and quantity checked by an all-party committee.”

However, Gundarapu Hari Babu, the TD floor leader in the VMC said, “This nomination procedure will help all the corporators to take up important works without waiting for finalisation of tenders. We request the other parties not to comment every move of the ruling party in a negative sense. We need support of all.”