Grim Ferry Tales

Fairy tales

Last week I revealed how three bidders blatantly formed a cartel to bid for a tender to repair three ferries that were begging to be repaired for a long, long time. Just to recap: Ratna Engineering Works quoted as follows in respect of the requirement; steel to be renewed: Chandor Rs 23,02,000; Quepem Rs 18,65,200; Dudhsagar Rs 6,48,830. Requirement of scraping, chipping, painting: Chandor Rs 2,65,053, Quepem Rs 2,65,053, Dudhsagar Rs 2,65,053. Requirement of carpentry repairs: Chandor Rs 3,82,514; Quepem Rs 2,77,970; Dudhsagar Rs 37,450. Requirement of stern gear repairs: Chandor Rs 46,900; Quepem Rs 46,900; Dudhsagar Rs 89,700. Requirement of engine and gearbox repairs: Chandor Rs 82,111, Quepem Rs 82,111, Dudhsagar 82,111. Requirement of repairing winch and steering system: Chandor Rs 1,31,800; Quepem Rs 1,31,800; Dudhsagar Rs 1,31,800. Requirement of electrical repairs: Chandor Rs 47,070; Quepem Rs 47,070; Dudshagar Rs 47,070.

There was something awry in the entire bidding, in that they all looked suspiciously similar, except for this one revealing factor. The red herring was the item 'steel to be renewed.' The giveaway is so obviously the Rs 6,48,830 that was quoted and which was well below the two other quotes of Rs 23,02,00 and Rs 18,65,200 in this item.

Jai Vijay

Now compare the bids of Vijai Marine Services. In respect of the requirement steel to be renewed: Chandor Rs 24,28,483; Quepem Rs 19,67,683; Dudhsagar Rs 6, 84,480. Requirement of scraping, chipping, painting: Chandor Rs 3,34,907; Quepem Rs 3,34,907; Dudhsagar Rs 3,34,907. Requirement of carpentry repairs: Chandor Rs 4,36,010; Quepem Rs 3,38,000; Dudhsagar Rs 69,950. Requirement of stern gear repairs: Chandor Rs 49,600; Quepem Rs 49,600; Dudhsagar Rs 1,02,000. Requirement of engine and gearbox repairs: Chandor Rs 96,611, Quepem Rs 96,611; Dudhsagar Rs 96,611. Requirement of repairing winch and steering system: Chandor Rs 1,48,800; Quepem Rs 1,48,800; Dudhsagar Rs 1,48,880. Requirement of Electrical repairs: Chandor Rs 51,720; Quepem Rs 51,720; Dudhsagar Rs 51,720. I say Jai Vijay because evidently they did not ink the tender directly but did so discreetly, to help a friend.

Proof of the pudding that didn't sell

Here's how. Take the item scraping, chipping and painting. Both Ratna Engineering and Vijai Marine each quoted identical figures for the three ferries they tendered for. Ditto for engine and gearbox repairs. Ditto for winch and steering systems. Ditto for electrical repairs. Yet the River Navigation Department estimated the total cost of repairs to be as follows: Chandor Rs 27,19,757, Quepem Rs 21,96,836, and Dudhsagar Rs 9,76,489. Point is, simply, how can you quote similar amounts for repair works when the officially (by RND) estimated total cost for each ferry differs greatly from each other. Obviously, they have to, because no two repair works can cost the same. Ever. In the end Vijai Marine quoted 30.88 per cent above the officially estimated cost for Chandor, 35.98 per cent above for Quepem and a whopping 52.43 per cent high on Dudhsagar. Ratna quoted 19.76 per cent above the officially estimated cost for Chandor, 23.63 per cent above for Quepem and 33.33 per cent above for Dudhsagar.

Rapeland

From Fun, Feni and Food, we appear to have moved on to Rape and Molestation. Since, we brought it on ourselves, we will just have to sweep it under the carpet and pretend it didn't happen, as always. Kerala, where I spent Christmas and New Year had one case of molestation (only) at the celebrated Kochi beach. The molesters or as a minister called them "perverts" were instantly arrested by plainclothes police, who after a similar incident on New Year's eve last year, just got wiser this year and left their uniforms at office. That is the difference for the cynics amongst us. Not going to happen in Goa. At Kovalam's Hawa beach, a single metal detector was used to screen literally thousands of local voyeurs making their annual pilgrimage to this popular beach. Truly, you have to see this phenomenon happening at Kovalam for yourself to believe me. It's been that way for decades, but a handful of efficient cops do their job and well. The beach had no bunkers. It did not look like Goa's embattled beaches and yet somewhere there must have been lurking cops in plainclothes.

(Feedback 6658606/ 9822152164, lionroars.goa@gmail.com )