23 February,2021 06:05 AM IST | Mumbai | Sanjeev Shivadekar
The assistant engineer has refuted the allegations of having demanded the cut. Representation pic
Two city contractors have accused an assistant engineer from H East ward of demanding a bribe to release the deposit amount they had paid while participating in the e-tender process. The engineer has refuted the charges, saying they are baseless.
In a letter to Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, two firms - Matoshree Developers and Babubhai & Co, claimed that Ashish Bhoir, assistant engineer, H East ward asked for a 50 per cent share from the deposit amount. mid-day has a copy of the letters.
In 2017-18, Matoshree Developers and Babubhai & Co. bagged several civic works in Bandra East through e-tendering process at the ward level. They paid the deposit and completed the works. But nearly two years since completing the job, the firms continue to make rounds of the ward office to get their deposit back.
"As per the tender process, the job is done. Now according to norms, we should get our deposit money. But the assistant engineer is demanding a cut to release the amount. Since we have refused to budge, the amount is not being released," a representative of one of the firms told mid-day.
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The contractors' deposit money together amounts to over R39 lakh. With no sign of getting the money back, the firms approached the BMC chief.
RTI activist Anil Galgali, too, has written to Chahal, the concerned ward officer and the deputy municipal commissioner of the respective zone regarding the matter.
"E-tendering process was introduced to get rid of corruption and bringing transparency. It was a good move. But such issues of officers harassing contractors still exists in the BMC. The civic body needs to fix these issues," Galgali said.
The other side
Bhoir said the allegations are baseless. Asked why the contractors categorically named him, Bhoir said, "Anyone can make allegations. It is easy to level charges against individuals. But there is no merit in the claims."
Bhoir added that the deposit had been withheld because the vigilance department has made certain observations in the case. "Now the case is getting closed and the further necessary process is on," Bhoir said.
Rs 39L
The contractors' deposit money total is over this sum
