In the recent years, locals in the gewogs have been taking up developmental works in the gewogs instead of awarding it to the contractors. And this so-called “Community Contract” has become a controversial issue in Monggar.
While the local leaders want to continue with the practice, contractors are not happy.
This issue was discussed extensively in the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu in Monggar.
The community contract involves no tendering or comparison of quotations. It is a contract given directly to the community by respective gups who have certain discretionary powers.
Most of the gups say it has been effective in completing the works on time, and within limited budget. Gups can contract out the work within a budget of 1.5 million ngultrum to communities.
However, the chairperson of the liaison committee in Monggar, Dorji Lekey, said it is not fair. He added that contractors are already finding it difficult to get contract works.
Meanwhile, the Saling gup,Sonam Yeshey, said they would always award the works of higher amount to the contractors.
Monggar Dzongda also informed the gathering that Anti-Corruption Commission has already warned the Dzongkhags to reduce the number of works given to community contracts because of the possible corrupt practices in the Gewogs.
In the meantime, some of the gups were also criticised for using their own equipment and machinery for the works which they denied.