NMC might be defrauded to the tune of Rs 1-cr in lamp-poles scam

NMC might be defrauded to the tune of Rs 1-cr in lamp-poles scam
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NASHIK, JULY 13: Six contractors, in connivance with some Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) officials, are suspected to have defrauded the civic body to the tune of Rs 1 crore, while supplying lamp-poles.

Municipal Commissioner Krishnakant Bhoge has issued show-cause notices to 10 civic officials, including executive engineer R K Pawar, and six contractors.

Bhoge said that out of the 83 lamp-pole contracts worth Rs 2.50 crore over the past two years, six were selected for scrutiny. He said that it was discovered that the poles supplied were of less weight and the electrical material was of sub-standard quality. He said that the defrauded amount could be more and would come to light as other contracts come under scrutiny eventually.

Bhoge has constituted a three-member committee, headed by executive engineer (projects) Shrirang Deshpande, to probe into the contracts and submit its report within a week. He said that he was considering handing over the case to the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for investigation.

The NMC had bought 20,000 poles from 83 contractors since 1998. It was discovered from the scrutiny of six contractors: R K Electricals, Yash Electricals, Radhika Electricals, Dwarka Electricals, and Swami Sales Corporation, that each pole was at least 15 kilos less in weight. The NMC had specified the weight of the poles from 80 to 135 kilos each. According to an inquiry committee member, the scrutiny of the six contracts would open a pandora's box of frauds committed by contractors and officials in the past two years.

Incidentally, a contractor was found to have illegally supplied power to BJP corporator Sanjay Chavan's farm-house near Makhmalabad, about 10 km from Nashik city.

After a visit to the spot, Bhoge stopped payment to the concerned contractor. The contractor, Gurudutt Electricals was asked to provide 14 lamp-poles in the area. Instead, he installed three poles in Chavan's farm-house of Chavan. The incident came to light when the Municipal Commissioner visited the spot after the receipt of a complaint. Chavan, incidentally, is a close chum of former health minister and Nashik MLA Daulatrao Aher.