The corporation, in its representation to the chairman of Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board (HPSEB) has strongly opposed the HPSEB move to award the work to a joint venture firm, which had submitted the lowest bid at Rs.

51.35 crore to the board for the specified work. There are a total of seven firms which had been short-listed by the board for finalisation of their price-bids.

Chairman-cum-managing director of the NPCC A.N.Jha, in his letter to the HPSEB chairman, had quoted that being a public sector undertaking, the corporation was entitled to a perference of 10 per cent against the quoted price of the other bidders. Since the bid of Messrs Satyam Shankarna-Rayana Raju had a price difference of 4.92 per cent of Rs. 53.88 crore HRT work, the corporation's claim cannot be ignored.

Earlier, at least three other firms, which had much better experience in the hydel project works, had cautioned the HPSEB against favouring any particular firm, which first was not be short-listed for the price bids.

Later criterion was changed to accommodate two more firms.

State Chief Secretary A.K.Goswami, who is also chairman of the HPSEB, when contacted, said the board had not taken any final decision on the bids. He, however, asserted that there weas no provision of any preferential treatment for any private or public sector firm. The decisions would be taken on the merit only, he said.