Second phase of probe into shoddy road repair work expected to indict more engineers than the first phase
The civic chief had ordered the inquiry in October 2015; (inset) mid-day's November 14, 2017 report. Representation Pic
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The probe in the Rs 352-crore road scam, which shook the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) two years ago, continues with 88 more civic employees expected to face action. In the first phase, 96 were punished. Of these, 82 repeat offenders will be punished again. As many as 188 engineers probed in both phases were responsible for giving the city 234 bad roads.
In all 100 engineers were probed in the first phase of inquiry involving 34 roads, of which four were let off. Action such as a cut in increment, removal from service, a fine of Rs 10,000 and pay reduced to basic salary was announced against the 96 engineers.
The inquiry report after the first phase probe pointed out several discrepancies like shoddy construction of the base of all the 34 roads. Representation Pic
Increase in punishment
In all 170 engineers were probed in the second phase. These include 82 from the first phase report, which means 88 engineers' were new in the second phase. A senior civic official said, "We are in the final stages of the inquiry and should complete it by January 31. While 82 engineers' names are repeated in the second phase probe, there are another 88 engineers who were probed in the second phase, which includes 200 roads. After the final report, it is most likely that the 88 engineers will face action on the lines of the action after the first phase inquiry. However, the 82 engineers who are common to the probe, will have to face an increase in quantum of punishment."
The speaking order after the phase one inquiry by municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta, clearly mentions that this has been done to ensure nobody indulges in malpractices like this in the civic body again. The order had stated that there is a need to strike at the root with exemplary punishment to the perpetrators of this organised loot.
Former mayor Snehal Ambekar had demanded a probe in shoddy road repair works, and the civic chief ordered an inquiry in October 2015. It was after this that a preliminary inquiry was conducted on 34 roads' works. The inquiry report pointed out several discrepancies like shoddy construction of the base of all the roads.
First arrests in the scam
Following this move, civic chief Ajoy Mehta ordered suspension of the then chief engineer of the roads department, Ashok Pawar, and chief engineer Vigilance, Uday Murudkar. Two chief engineers were also arrested by Mumbai Police in 2016 and an executive engineer was also arrested in this case towards the end of July in 2016. While the executive engineer was included in the list of 100 engineers who were probed, the two former chief engineers have a separate inquiry going on against them, conducted by Deputy Commissioner Vijay Balamwar.
After the probe report was put in the public domain, Congress party chief Ravi Raja pointed out in the general body meeting, that the BMC should file an FIR against all those named guilty in the report. Additional municipal commissioner Idzes Kundan informed the general body that the final road scam report should be out before January 31, 2018.
34 Number of roads probed in the first phase of inquiry
200 Number of roads probed in the second phase of inquiry
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