The general body meeting of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on the last day of the year 2021 was a lengthy one, and stormy too.

Among several other issues raised, stationery scam attracted a lot of attention. After discussion and demand from corporators, Dayashankar Tiwari, Mayor, ordered constitution of a four-member committee headed by Avinash Thakre, Ruling Party Leader, to probe the matter.

Vijay alias Pintu Zalke, former Chairman of Standing Committee; and Tanaji Wanve, Leader of Opposition; raised issue of stationery scam through an adjournment motion. Adv Dharmapal Meshram and others participated in the discussion that followed. Stationery scam was unearthed by Dr Sanjay Chilkar, Medical Officer. He had lodged a complaint alleging that payments of Rs 67 lakh were made for 41 bills submitted by contractors concerned.

Already, cops have registered case and made some arrests.

During the discussion, the corporators alleged that the contractor concerned had obtained contracts of NMC in the name of different companies. For past 40 years, members of the same family registered five companies and got the contracts. Zalke, Wanve, and Adv Meshram said that the officials who did not verify the agencies also were guilty in the scam. Already, Municipal Commissioner has constituted a committee headed by Additional Municipal Commissioner. Corporators questioned if the Municipal Commissioner was empowered to constitute such a committee.

Following the discussion, the Mayor gave his ruling and announced constitution of a four-member committee under Rule 31 of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act. Avinash Thakre, Ruling Party Leader, will head the committee that will comprise corporators Sandeep Jadhav, Vaishali Narnawre, and Adv Sanjay Balpande. According to Tiwari, the committee formed under Rule 31 was enabled to appoint external experts for conducting enquiry. Accordingly, the committee can increase number of its members to seven and may invite retired judge, retired Accountant, or retired Government official to be a part of it. “I have asked the committee to submit its report within one month. Also, the committee has been asked to conduct enquiry into the dealings of the five agencies since their registration, covering 40 years,” he told mediapersons after the general body meeting.

Following the complaint of Dr Chilkar, Sadar Police had arrested four accused namely Mohd Asfaque Ahmed, Auditor; Mohan Padwanshi, Clerk in General Administration Department of NMC; Atul Sakore and Padmakar Kolba Sakore, both suppliers.

Some other issues also came up for discussion in the general body meeting. In the Question Hour, senior corporator Praful Gudadhe raised the issue of cost escalation of works under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme. He alleged that the

company to which the work order was given refused to do the work citing issues concerning

affordability, and NMC also failed to make available land. As a result, AMRUT project works’ estimated cost rose from Rs 170 crore to Rs 250 crore. He also alleged irregularities in 24x7 water supply project. Pravin Datke, former Mayor, also flayed the administration. Finally, the Mayor announced to constitute a committee headed by Chairman of Water Supply Committee to conduct probe and submit a report within a month.

Another important matter on agenda of the meeting was about changing the use of 217.66 hectares of land excluded from MIHAN project area, for residential use. The Mayor asked the Civil Committee to study the issue and submit a report. Senior corporator Praful Gudadhe flayed the decision and said that it was a ‘mean move’. As per the process, now the Civil Committee will submit its report on the issue to the general body, which will discuss it again.