The firm has agreed to undertake the task at a cost of Rs 17.97 lakh as against the amount of Rs 24.99 lakh quoted earlier.

The committee, however, deffered a decision on the proposal to constitute a panel comprising consultants of various departments to check the quality of materials used in major public works undertaken by the VMC as well as to supervise the execution of the works. The decision on the same will ensue only after a discussion of the scope of work to be undertaken by the consultants is held in the next Committee meeting, according to highly placed civic sources.

The Committee also approved the VMC's proposal to purchase 150 garbage containers at a total cost of nearly 31 lakhs as part of its solid waste management programme. The containers will be an addition to the 300 garbage containers purchased earlier in the year by the VMC.

Meanwhile, alleging corruption in the containers purchase deal, Opposition leaders Kanchanbhai Parmar, Chinnam Gandhi and Nandu Pardeshi in a letter to Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria call for an inquiry into the matter. They pointed out that while the present deal was affixed at Rs 20,945 per container, the earlier two purchases from the same company in July and February had been at the cost of Rs 23,345 and Rs 29,500 per container, respectively. They alleged that the differences in the amounts paid in the three successive purchases from the same seller hinted at discrepancies in the deals, which needed to be probed.

MOVE OPPOSED: STATE Congress General Secretary Ashok Gupta, Karelibaug councillor Ramaben Patel and other Congress leaders in the area have strongly opposed any move by the VMC authorities to relocate the Sindhi cabin-wallahs, whose cabins were demolished at Lehripura last year, in Karelibaug. The leaders stated on Monday that the VMC should desist from such a move in the interest of the Karelibaug residents and traders. Meanwhile, RJP councillor Ashwin Thakore has also stated that the VMC should give a priority to the traders in the vicinity than the cabin-wallahs.

Training camp: Five women councillors will represent the VMC at a four-day training camp on `Representation of Women Councillors' in Mahabaleshwar, Maharashtra, from January 28-31. The camp has been organised by the All-India Institute of Local Self Government, Mumbai.