Bids have been returned from five consortia to the State Hydraulics Works (DSI) for consultancy services for the $1,400 million Greater Melen river water supply project for Istanbul. However, the DSI has ruled out one of the bids, from a consortium headed by the US' Bechtel, say the sources.

The four consortia of foreign and local firms left in the running are:

Japan's EPDC and PCI, with Germany's Lahmeyer International, the UK's Sir William Halcrow & Partners, and Su Is with Dolsar Muhendislik

Japan's Nippon Koei with the UK's Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners and Mott MacDonald, and Setan, Su Yapi, Dapta, Sial and Temelsu

the UK's Acer Consultants with Binnie & Partners and Hanswell Consultants, Japan's Sanu Consultants, Danish Power, and Acer Muhendislik, Seyas, Ensu and Tekar

the US' Brown & Root with Japan's CKC, the UK's Ove Arup & Partners, and Arup Muhendislik and Tumas

The project will be largely financed by credit valued at a total of about $1,050 million from the Japan's Overseas Economic Co-operation Fund (OECF), the first $495 million tranche of which was signed in November 1993. It includes a weir on the Melen River, a 150-kilometre transmission pipeline, pumping stations, a water treatment plant, and a sea-bed crossing of the Bosporus.