The Bengal public works department has decided to hand over the responsibility of finalising tenders for engineering projects worth more than Rs 2 crore to the departments implementing them.

Many view the decision as an attempt by the PWD to shrug off responsibility and fear that incompetent agencies could bag projects.

Sources said administrative circles viewed the decision as a classic example of “bureaucratic passing the buck” because the PWD would leave it to departments that didn’t have engineering wings, like health and education, to take technical decisions.

So far, the PWD had been finalising tenders for all projects requisitioned by departments. The PWD had the authority to decide whether to award a project to a single bidder in case there were not enough participants. It also took decisions on whether to go ahead with a project if the agencies quoted a price higher than the estimate.

“The decisions relate to financial and technical sides. While the finance department’s approval was required for the finance-related matters, the PWD had the sole authority to take technical decisions,” explained an official.

But in a recent order the PWD has said that departments planning projects would have to select the implementing agency although the PWD would invite tenders. Decisions on single bidders and cost considerations would also have to be taken by the departments concerned.

“In summary, it is for the requisitioning departments to decide the acceptance of tender or decision of re-tendering and other related issues, once tenders are finalised by the PWD Engineering Officers since administrative approval and financial sanction for the project/scheme is originally accorded by the Department concerned,” reads the order issued by the PWD additional chief secretary.

A senior official said the PWD would now only float tenders, but would not take any decisions on technical issues.