Date:05/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/05/stories/2008090552140400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Global tenders to be invited for procuring 40 lakh colour TV sets

Special Correspondent

The distribution will begin in January and go on till December next year

— Photo: DIPR

IN DISCUSSION: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi chairing a meeting to discuss the purchase of colour TV sets, at the Secretariat in Chennai on Thursday.

CHENNAI: A meeting of representatives of legislature parties on Thursday decided to invite global tenders this month for procuring 40 lakh colour television sets under the scheme of free distribution of colour TVs.

The tender documents will be opened and finalised in October and the distribution of 40 lakh sets will begin in January and go on till December next year, according to an official release.

The norms of tenders and technical specifications, adopted in the third phase of distribution of the sets, will be applied in the fourth phase too, the release said.

Chaired by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, the meeting was attended by Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin (DMK), C. Govindasamy (CPI-M), V. Sivapunniyam (CPI), H. Abdul Basith, (Indian Union Muslim League), M. Jagan Moorthy (Puratchi Bharatham) and D. Ravikumar (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi). K.S. Sripathi, Chief Secretary, and other senior officials were present.

In the first round that began on September 15, 2006, 30,000 colour TV sets were distributed and in the second round, 25 lakhs were given. In the third round, it had been decided to procure 37.5 lakh sets from 10 companies and about 24.5 lakh sets were passed on to District Collectors for distribution.

The remaining 12.91 lakh sets would be distributed by December.