Corporator accuses BMC of cheating

The administration explained that the tenders should be dispensed with as the machine was purchased from the same company and “so direct quotation was obtained.” The members were also informed that the committee’s sanction was obtained earlier (SCR 2002 dated March 15, 1995).

Not convinced, Vanu inquired with the company’s agents regarding the purchase of the items only to find that the sanction was for a totally different purpose.

When the matter came up for discussion, Vanu produced a copy of the resolution, which pertained to the purchase of a spare tube with oil can filter card. “Not only the items sought to be purchased were different, but even the cost was Rs 15,05,445.90,” he said, adding that additional municipal commissioner Sharvaree Gokhale had been “intentionally misinformed” by the radiology department at the LTMG hospital.

“How can the administration waive the tenders claiming that the standing committee had already accorded sanction to the proposal earlier when the items sought to be purchased and even the cost do not match?” he asked.The invitation of tenders was also dispensed with even for the purchase of items under earlier sanction resolution (SCR 2002). The administration had then maintained that the standing committee had approved a similar purchase for the KEM hospital in 1994.

Gokhale agreed to inquire into the proposal and re-circulate it only after “clearing the doubts.”