Chennai: More than a week after model code of conduct was lifted, the tenders section of key govt departments, including GCC, Metrowater, Highways and PWD, lie in limbo as there is no active ministry in place to approve and fund projects.Besides a few small emergency projects involving road cuts, govt departments haven’t floated any initiatives — either new or those to be continued from the previous regime. It is because every tender requires a financial and administrative sanction from finance dept or the specific state dept, for both of which there’s no minister at the moment.Due to the delay, basic work such as road relaying and canal desilting are hindered. Since May 11, GCC has floated about 40 tenders, most of which were small projects such as adding missing paver block alongside pavements, fixing damaged street name boards and hiring vehicles and road cut patchwork. Some of the tenders were from councillor’s ward development funds not involving the GCC’s exchequer.The last tender floated by TN State Highways Authority was on March 27, while CMDA just floated one tender for providing security services for its iron and steel market complex in Sathangadu. MTC floated just two tenders for LED light and fan procurement.Deputy Mayor Mahesh Kumar said usually, ministers’ portfolios are announced immediately after chief minister’s oath-taking ceremony. “This delay has paralysed GCC. How can we propose projects and float tenders without concurrence of finance and state parent department? Even if we propose, if they are not on the same page, they will reject it nor fund it,” said Mahesh Kumar, urging the govt to quickly allot the ministries.Officials say IAS officers also are unsure of a bureaucratic reshuffle and aren’t conducting reviews. Minister Aadhav Arjuna said CM has instructed MLAs to carry out reviews and inspections, and prepare a report. .The delay is a concern for bureaucrats as they have to put decision-making on hold. For instance, after Amul and some private companies raised milk prices by 2 per litre, officials said any decision on whether Aavin should follow suit has been delayed as the matter has to first be discussed with the dairy development minister before being placed before CM.
