Jalandhar MC approaches local bodies dept to take a final call
JALANDHAR: After a deadlock of one-and-a-half years on the issue of incorrect delivery of machinery by a private firm to the municipal corporation (MC), the case has now reached the local bodies department for further action.
The machinery purchase scam had come to light in February 2017, when it was found that one of ten tippers purchased by the MC was of old model, while another tipper supplied was refurbished and not new.
While the civic body here had lodged a first information report (FIR) against the firm, the latter had moved the Punjab and Haryana high court demanding immediate release of pending amount.
This resulted in a deadlock until recently in October, when the city based M/S Globe Autos approached the MC and proposed an out-of-court settlement.
The civic authorities had given a green signal and asked officials to start the documentation process to make the settlement with the company. The process, however, came to a halt as the matter was moved to the local bodies department for resolution.
“Though we had started the process of clearing all formalities but after taking legal opinion on the matter, it has been sent to the local bodies department. Since the matter is now in the Punjab and Haryana high court and an FIR has been lodged in the case, it is up to the local bodies department to decide on how to move forward with the case,” said MC workshop in-charge Mandeep Singh.
A senior MC official, requesting anonymity, termed the proposal of resolution 'a wrong move' on the part of the MC.
"The firm approached us just days after the matter came to light last year but we didn’t give in. Any truce proposal does not change the fact that the company carried out the dealings in an unethical manner,” the official said.
The firm proposed that it will change a mini Dost tipper truck of 2015 model and will supply a fresh vehicle in its place. It will also provide one fully- built tipper without any additional cost in exchange for the refurbished piece. As per the settlement, the civic body will release the outstanding dues to M/s Globe Auto Parts amounting to ₹14,96,496, with immediate effect, without any deduction, and will quash the FIR before the competent court of law.
Ten of the tipper truck chassis purchased at ₹6 lakh each from the firm, as discussed above,have been standing in the MC’S workshop from two years. The civic body has failed to get them fabricated and put them to use.
“We had floated the tender for the fabrication work on December 12 but no one participated in the tendering process. Same has been refloated. We are expecting to complete the fabrication work by month’s end,” said the municipal corporation workshop in-charge Mandeep Singh.