MESCO ‘forgets’ 2.8 cr of 3 cr loan from charity fund

On July 23, 2011, R G Kulkarni, general manager, MESCO wrote to Jatkar to waive the Rs 2.8 crore but it was not done. Interestingly, there has been no communication between the two agencies asking MESCO to repay the loan. The communication, if done, was not part of the files shown to The Indian Express.

When asked about the repayment, Jatkar said, "It does not matter. I consider that instead of putting that money in fixed deposit as savings, I put it in MESCO. Therefore there is no loss. Even if the project (at MIDC) does not succeed, the appreciation of the land will make up for the lost interest."

A former DSW official, however, said MESCO and DSW are different entities, with different accounts and repayment of loan is a simple accounting requirement which the two agencies are not adhering to. It may be noted that as reported by this paper earlier MESCO has not been audited for years.

OUTSTANDING Loan: R 3 crore extended on October 11, 2010 at 8.5% interest

Repayment deadline: October 11, 2011; not repaid till date

Total pending: 3.4 crore plus (Rs 2.8 cr and Rs 61.2 lakh as unpaid interest)

Salary Cut

According to RTI reply to a city-based ex-serviceman, as of February 7, 2013, there were 174 employees of MESCO who did not get salary for two months, and 19 for three months. There were 128 who had not received salary for four months or more. MESCO claims to employ 6,500 ex-servicemen.

The MESCO turnover is claimed to be 65 crore and profits 21.5 cr. It has never been audited.

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