NMC general body meet: Bouquets for Radhakrishnan B, brickbats for Mundhe

purchases made during Covid period

Mayor directs, commissioner’s

committee to have two senior auditors

Lokmat News Network

Nagpur, June 30

The NMC has denied all allegations of irregularities in the purchase of medicines, testing materials, machines etc. of levelled against them during the Covid period at the General Body meeting of NMC. Still mayor Dayashankar Tiwari has ordered to form a three member committed under the leadership of commissioner Radhakrishnan B, to look into the allegations in the House.

The committee will also include two senior auditors from Accountant General’s (AG) office and would table a report in the House. During the meeting, all the members lauded the efforts of commissioner Radhakrishnan B in controlling the pandemic, while the members supported the investigation of the actions of the then commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. Mayor Tiwari said that the members presented their side amicably. Many issues have been cleared, but whatever allegations have been made, are of serious nature and have to be cleared and hence the committee.

The efforts of the officers and employees of NMC during Covid were appreciated by all the members. During the last general body meeting, independent corporator Abha Pandey had brought an adjournment motion pointing out serious allegations in the procurement process during Covid period. The mayor called a special meeting on Wednesday to discuss the adjournment motion. In the meeting, Pandey said that during the tenure of the then commissioner Mundhe, a committee was formed for the purchase, but the consent of the members of the committee was not taken during the purchase of many things.

Additional commissioner Ram Joshi and medical officer Dr Sawai did not have the right to purchase. Still they signed the documents and bills of purchase. There was misappropriation in the purchase of the thermometer. Two bills were made of the same work in a day. There are many more irregularities. There should be investigation. Ruling party leader Avinash Thakre said that if allegations are made then it should be investigated. Otherwise many questions will arise in future. The mayor should be given powers to constitute committees. The report should be laid on the Table of the House in a month.

Opposition leader Tanaji Wanve said that the work of employees and officers has been commendable during the Covid period. Their trust helped in curbing the infection, but prima facie there is an irregularity in the procurement process. If there has been a deliberate mistake, then it should be investigated. Better work has been done under the leadership of commissioner Radhakrishnan. Be prepared for the third wave.

Former Standing Committee chairman Vijay Jhalke said that the work of additional commissioner Ram Joshi so far during the Covid period is commendable. They are engaged from day one till now. It is wrong to accuse them. Between, whatever allegations have been made against the administration, the truth should come out.

Shiv Sena’s Mangala Gavre also supported Pandey’s allegations and demanded a probe. Dharampal Meshram said that Pandey is currently an office-bearer of the NCP. In such a situation, her allegations may be politically motivated. It is not right to conduct an inquiry only in case of allegation. Still, we do not support corruption. Sandeep Sahare, Manoj Sangole, Nitin Sathwane, Sandeep Jadhav, Nanda Jichkar etc. participated in the discussion.

‘Mundhe pressurised

people to get work done’

A long time has passed since the transfer of the then commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. Despite that, his name again came in the discussion regarding the purchases made during the Covid period. Standing Committee chairman Prakash Bhoyar said that during the period of Mundhe. there was misappropriation in purchase. It is clearly visible from the documents as well. During that time the employees were under pressure. They must have been made to work under pressure. Can’t blame the entire administration for one person’s wrong doing. Leader of the ruling party Avinash Thakre, without naming Mundhe. also talked about conducting separate investigations into the purchases made during his tenure and present commissioner’s tenure.

NMC administration

denies all allegations

To respond to the allegations leveled by Abha Pandey, commissioner Radhakrishnan B authorised additional commissioner Ram Joshi. In a statement of about one and a half hours, Joshi answered to all the allegations with facts. Along with this, the explanation of how the allegations were wrong was also given. He said that the administration works in a transparent manner and every purchase has been made subject to the rules. Whatever information Pandey asked was provided to her and there may be a slight delay in providing information. Whatever is purchased, it is audited. There was no irregularity anywhere.

Purchases were transparent, no need

for investigation: Commissioner

Commissioner Radhakrishnan B said that whatever answer has been given by the administration to Abha Pandey in writing, it is quite clear. There was no misrepresentation anywhere in the functioning of the administration. Everything is done in a transparent manner. Talking about medicine, material rates, they kept changing. Everything is transparent. No need for a committee. For this, making a committee of the House would be a waste of their invaluable time. Every purchase will be audited.