The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has come under the scanner of the Lokayukta of Maharashtra, who has ordered a probe into the contracts awarded to six firms that were allegedly involved in
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has come under the scanner of the Lokayukta of Maharashtra, who has ordered a probe into the contracts awarded to six firms that were allegedly involved in a multi-crore roads construction scam.
State Lokayukta M.L. Tahaliyani ordered the probe earlier last week for road contracts given to KR Constructions, RPS Infraprojects, Mahavir Infrastructure, J Kumar Works, Relcon Infraprojects and RK Madhani Works. This move was made following a complaint lodged by RTI activist Anil Galgali with the Lokayukta against the civic body. “The Lokayukta has launched a probe into the matter as stated in the complaint,” an official at Lokayukta office, K. Chavan said.
Last April, the BMC filed a complaint with the Azad Maidan police against the six contractors after an in-house inquiry report revealed their involvement in the pre-monsoon road repair work scam worth Rs 352 crore. Meanwhile, the BMC has also blacklisted these firms from doing all future business with the civic body.
Mr Galgali in his complaint alleged BMC’s nexus with these firms after road and bridges repair works were awarded to them yet again.
“I found that the civic administration in the first place was quick to lodge FIRs against these firms, while on the other hand, these firms were continued to be given fresh tenders worth crores of rupees. These tainted firms have managed to bag the contracts of over Rs 1,000 crore in different projects which reflect the shoddy working of the civic body,” Mr Galgali said.
