28 October,2021 08:09 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
Bhalchandra Shirsat has alleged that BMC’s old vehicles are going to be scrapped and again it will suffer a loss of crores of rupees due to this racket. Representation pic/Atul Kamble
The Standing Committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered an inquiry against some scrap dealers who have been taking part in the tender processes of various civic departments for years, and have the same address and contact details, but show different names.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Standing Committee member Bhalchandra Shirsat has also alleged that the BMC is losing crores of rupees every year due to some of these dealers, who also have several companies in the name of one scrap dealer. "The commissioner should pay close attention and check the details of the previous scrap auction. The racket of scrap dealers in various departments has literally looted the corporation," said Shirsat. He added, "Many times the auctioneer on behalf of the corporation, and the beneficiary participating in the auction, have the same address and the owner. So there is a clear monopoly in the process. At present, the corporation is going to purchase a large number of electric vehicles. The old vehicles will be scrapped, so once again, the BMC will suffer a loss of crores of rupees due to this racket."
The allegation comes amid the proposal of scrapping of the Fire Brigade's old vehicles for R 2.15 crore in the past three years.
"Not only in scrap, but there is such a modus operandi in the demolition process also. The municipal corporation is suffering due to these contractors," said Rais Shaikh, group leader of Samajwadi Party.
"These people have been robbing the BMC for the past four decades. The same contractors grabbed pay and park contracts under different names of women's self-help groups," said Yashwant Jadhav, chairman of the Standing Committee. He ordered an inquiry against such scrap dealers and asked to start a procedure to file a criminal case. He has also asked for blacklisting of the contractors.
The meeting of the Standing Committee was the first physical attendance of members since the pandemic started. After continuous demand for the same by the BJP and Congress, and an order from the High Court, the physical meeting was held on Wednesday. However, some members did not wear masks and almost all removed the masks while speaking.
