MUMBAI: Mumbai city guardian minister Aslam Shaikh demanded a vigilance department probe into BMC’s controversial project to install oxygen generation plants here.
Close to two weeks after the Rs 84-crore project was awarded to a company which was allegedly penalised in the penguin enclosure project at Byculla zoo and an oxygen plant manufacturer who was allegedly blacklisted for shoddy work by Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Medical College in November last year, installation of the plants is not over yet.
Shaikh has sought a probe by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) against BMC officials if the plants are not installed in 30 days.
BMC standing committee had on June 8 approved the proposal to award the work to construct 16 oxygen plants at 12 locations in Mumbai to Highway Construction Co.
While tenders were floated in April, and the plants were to be constructed in 30 days, the project was stuck after BJP’s Vinod Mishra raised objections on tainted companies being in the fray.
Shaikh wrote to municipal commissioner Iqbal Chahal demanding an audit by BMC’s test audit and vigilance officer into the contract.
“I’m told that Highway Construction Co is know to forge documents as it has been penalised for it in the past, and that parts of the oxygen plants may be installed that are not manufactured by Unissi India, as claimed in the bid.
I urge you to direct officials of Mechanical and Electrical department to verify the parts and equipment of all plants at all 16 locations before installation.
In the light of the above, I urge you to direct the TAVO to carry out an audit of all the plants that are installed under this contract,” Shaikh said in his letter.
Shaikh said that he would visit the 16 sites 30 days after work orders are issued to check if the plants have been installed.
Shaikh said he was expecting financial irregularities in the project and demanded that no payments should be released to the company till an audit is carried out.
RTI activist Anil Galgali said BMC had not appointed any consultant or experts before allotting the contract.
“BMC is spending money on oxygen plants, no expert advice was taken,” Galgali said.
P Velrasu, additional municipal commissioner (projects), said, “The letter of acceptance (LoA) was issued on June 14 and all sites were handed over to the contractor on June 16.” Romin Chedha of Highway Construction and Unissi India did not respond to queries from TOI.