CHENNAI: The Rural Development Department has placed two officials under suspension following the controversy over a short-duration tender floated for the construction of a 30,000-litre overhead water tank at Karappettai village in Kancheepuram.
The tender, valued at Rs 16.83 lakh under the 15th Finance Commission grant for 2025-26, was released at 9 am on Tuesday and scheduled to close at 3 pm the same day, leaving a bidding window of just six hours. The bids were to be opened at 4 pm.
Screenshots of the tender details uploaded on the portal went viral on social media, triggering criticism over the manner in which the process was conducted by the newly elected TVK government, which had come to power promising an alternative to the Dravidian parties that ruled the State for nearly six decades.
After the issue led to a backlash, authorities cancelled the tender citing administrative reasons.
According to proceedings issued by K Aarthi, Joint Director and Project Director, District Rural Development Agency, Kancheepuram, the short-term tender was issued for the period from May 12 to May 19 and was displayed on the Kancheepuram Block Development Office notice board.
As per tender norms, the documents should have been uploaded and made available for download from May 12 onwards. Officials found that the tender document was created only on May 18 and uploaded on the website on May 19, in violation of prescribed procedures.
The proceedings stated that the short-term tender had been floated without obtaining proper approval and in contravention of tender rules. Based on the orders of the Kancheepuram Collector, disciplinary action was initiated against former Block Development Officer (Village Panchayats) K Shanthi, currently serving at Walajabad Panchayat Union, and Assistant Engineer L Kayalvizhi of Kancheepuram Panchayat Union. Both officials were suspended pending further inquiry.