KCB members off to Delhi, seek redressal from George

PUNE, Oct 7: Even as the elected members of the Khadki Cantonment Board (KCB) have left for Delhi to seek an appointment with Union Defence Minister George Fernandes for redressal of their grievances, cantonment executive officer Ajay Kumar has forwarded a detailed report to the Director General of Defence Estates on the charges levelled against him and president Brig. Mrinal Suman.

The whole issue centres around the approval of tenders for various contract works, Ajay Kumar said, questioning the merit of approving tenders which would cause a loss of Rs 40 lakh to the cantonment board. “Even the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command sent a reply in favour of the president who set aside the contentions of the elected members who insisted on approving the tenders,” he explained.

Alleging that no meetings have been held since May 1998 leading to the total collapse of administration, the members have openly demanded removal of both the president and the CEO. The CEO however claimed that works in the cantonment were proceeding smoothly. “We have begun works on roads and repairs to cantonment buildings,” he said.

The outcome of the meeting in Delhi with the Defence Minister, however, will be known only after the elected members return to the city.