Tripura government's routine drinking water supply project for 2005-06 has been delayed on account of re-invitation of bids for key supplies.

According to information received from Tripura government's public works department, tenders for supply of ERW pipes were re-invited in April 2006 following the cancellation of the original bidding process initiated in May 2005. This has resulted in considerable delay in executing various drinking water supply projects that aimed to benefit some half a million persons.

Elaborating on the situation, Tripura PWD officials stated that one Delhi-based company, Good Luck Steel Tubes, had qualified for the bids invited in May 2005. The tender could not progress due to last-minute disagreement about the pricing and other technical specifications. In the new tenders floated, bidding for which closed on 28 April 2006, four entities are frontrunners. The list includes Howrah-based Jindal India, Kolkata-based Gajajan Tubes, AST Pipes Pvt Ltd of Ghaziabad, besides Good Luck Steel Tubes that has re-bid for the project.

The tender was for the procurement of ERW pipes worth Rs.5 crore. The Tripura government annually constructs 100 deep water tube wells across the state. Each well costs around Rs.50 lakh and benefits some 5,000 people. A typical tube well project takes seven months for completion, according to government estimates.