SRINAGAR – As the gag on all means of communication, including mobile and internet services, continued for the 46th day on Thursday in Kashmir valley, contractors are facing hardships in filing e-tenders for different contracts in government offices.
Despite suspension of broadband and mobile internet services for security reasons, the local newspapers are flooded with advertisements from different government offices, seeking e-tenders for applying for a contract.
Meanwhile, due to poor response to e-tenders, many government departments have issued fresh tenders. “It is ironic that the government departments are seeking e-tenders when there is no internet connectivity in the valley. How do they expect us to file e-tender,” Rameez Khan, a contractor, said.
Mr Khan said he had to send one of his employees to Delhi to file a tender. “We have no option but get the tenders filed outside the valley. The government should either setup a centre for us where we can file e-tenders or accept offline tenders,” he added.
Similar views were expressed by other contractors.
However, Deputy Commissioner office, Baramulla, have setup a centre where students and contractors can access internet to file applications and tenders.
An advisement given by J&K Tourism Development Corporation Limited, sought e-tenders for Technical Bid and Financial Bid for annual maintenance contract of housekeeping and cleaning of Pahalgam Club and Convention centre for a period of one year.
Similarly e-tenders were invited by Office of the Divisional Forest Officer Pir-Panjal Forest, Division Budgam, Office of the Executive Engineer Urban Local Bodies Kashmir and other government offices.
The communication network was suspended across Kashmir valley, including Srinagar, on August 5 as a precautionary measure to prevent rumours after the special status of the state was scrapped. Suspension of the communication — landline, mobile and internet — network evoked sharp reaction, particularly from the families whose relatives were outside the valley.
It was in the last week of August that landlines were restored to subscribers connected with Barzulla and Sonawar telephone exchanges. Landlines phones of subscribers, including all media organizations, from main BSNL telephone exchange were restored earlier this month. (Agencies)
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
