Batala MC issues ad inviting tenders for work ‘already done’
BATALA : The municipal council (MC) here has committed a glaring faux pas by allegedly floating an advertisement inviting tenders for setting up LED streetlights to be installed at an estimated cost of ₹44.3 lakh from the Rashtriya Foundry to the New Bypass Chowk on the Amritsar road. However, it has been alleged that the LED lights were installed on this stretch about four months ago.
The ‘mistake’, was pointed out by the MC’S former vice-president Harinder Singh Kalsi, who is at present a councillor.
The tender was published in a vernacular newspaper on December 16. The tender, signed by council president, executive officer and assistant municipal engineer, had called for tenders from approved contractors and societies for installing LED streetlights from the Rashtriya Foundry to the New Bypass Chowk on the Amritsar road. The council had approved ₹44.3 lakh for this work. The tenders can be filed till 10am of December 29 . They will be opened on the same day at 12.30 pm at the council office, according to the advertisement. Kalsi said, “When the council employees were preparing estimates for this work, I raised an objection, but all his repeated objections were ignored, following which Ie made a written complaint with he higher officials of the local bodies department.”
Taking to HT, Kalsi accused the MC authorities of misappropriating funds. He also alleged that one LED light, which costs ₹10,000 to ₹12,000 in the market, was earlier purchased at a cost of ₹32,000 by the council.
He also alleged that the works relating to electricity supply maintenance, garbage lifting and sanitation was allotted to a favoured contractor, who is close to MC president Naresh Mahajan. “I have also written to local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu and, hopefully, the department is going to conduct an inquiry very soon,” added Kalsi.
Executive officer MS Randhawa was not available for comments, despite repeated attempts. Assistant municipal engineer Ravinder Singh Kalsi refused to comment on the issue.
Junior engineer Rajesh Kumar said that he joined the MC only 20 days ago and has no knowledge about these tenders.