Sinking tale of the boat tender

Arjun RaghunathFirst Published : 13 Oct 2009 02:59:00 AM ISTLast Updated :

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The sad tale of Jalakanyaka, the boat that capsized in Thekkaddy claiming 45 lives, becomes murkier with the revelation that the Tourism Department rejected tenders submitted by two State Government agencies before placing the order for the boat with a Chennai-based private firm, violating the norm that government agencies be given preference.


Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC) and Regional Agro Industrial Cooperative Limited (RAIDCO) submitted tenders for supplying two boats. Both agencies, and another private firm, were shown the door in the initial stage itself on the ground that they were not technically competent and Chennai- based Vignesh Marine Technical Services Private Limited was short-listed.

After an initial invitation of tenders for the purchase of two "75-seat eco-friendly luxury boats" in 2005 was cancelled for 'technical reasons', the Tourism Department invited tenders again in June 2007. Four firms -- KSINC, RAIDCO, Vignesh Marine Technical Services and Mullubhai & Sons -- submitted technical and financial bids. RAIDCO Kattapana unit took part in the bid in association with Kochibased Samudra Shipyard Private Limited.

KTDC managing director K G Mohanlal, KTDC mechanical engineer Manoj Mathew, former additional director (planning) in the Tourism Department U V Jose, chief inspector of boats M Mathews and the eco-tourism director were members of the technical evaluation committee. The committee came to the conclusion that KSINC, RAIDCO and Mullubhai were not technically competent so their financial bids were not even considered. The order for supplying the two boats was subsequently awarded to Vignesh Marine Technical Services for Rs 83 lakh.

KSINC, operating in the field of inland navigation for three decades, quoted Rs 76 lakh for a single hull boat and Rs 57 lakh for a double-hull catamaran-type boat. KSINC even suggested that a double-hull boat was best suited to Thekkady conditions, it is reliably learnt. Samudra Shipyard has also been in the area of ship-building for several years.

The Crime Branch has started an investigation into the purchase of Jalakanyaka by the Tourism Department.