The Water Services Corporation, replying to points made by Opposition Leader Alfred Sant over the tendering practices it

followed, said that while there had been cheaper offers for work on the waste water treatment plant in Gozo, they had been of such an inferior quality that they had to be excluded from the process.

On Sunday, Dr Sant challenged Industry, Investments and Information Technology Minister Austin Gatt and Water Services Corporation chairman Michael Falzon to hold a public inquiry into the way in which contracts were being awarded.

One contract in particular, for work at the new waste water treatment plant in Gozo, was singled out by Dr Sant, who cried foul over the fact that a certain well-connected contractor had won the contract, although the offer was Lm1.5 million more than those of rival bidders.

The WSC said that there had indeed been two other bidders for the construction contract, but both had been excluded as they had not fulfilled the conditions of the tender in a “serious and valid way”. The quality of one of the offers was so inferior, the WSC said, that the courts had issued a prohibitory injunction to ensure the contract was not awarded to the company.

Moreover, the WSC said, it was a known fact that each tender awarded was adjudicated on its merits and under Department of Contracts regulations.

Replying to Dr Sant’s allegations that concrete tanks installed by the contractor had been built from inferior grade concrete and had developed holes, the WSC explained that the holes in the tanks were intentional. They had served for tie rods to secure scaffolding during construction, and would soon be filled by concrete technicians under the supervision of the WSC.

The WSC also rebutted Dr Sant’s allegation that Dr Gatt had requested Mr Falzon to take action over the “defective” work.