Nagpur Civic Body Under Fire for Alleged Tender Norms Violation in Swearing-In Ceremony
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has found itself embroiled in controversy following allegations that it bypassed mandatory tender procedures while awarding work for a recent swearing-in ceremony. The total expenditure for the event, held at NMC headquarters, reportedly exceeded Rs10 lakh, which is the threshold requiring competitive bidding under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act.
Congress Corporator Raises Serious Concerns
Congress corporator Abhijeet Jha has formally sought detailed information from the civic body's Public Works Department (PWD) regarding the process through which the work order was awarded. Jha alleges that the administration directly allotted the work to a Mahal-based decorator without issuing even a short-term tender, nor did they invite quotations from any other decorators before proceeding with the said contractor.
Documents obtained by Jha from the PWD reveal that the arrangements were made following directions from civic leadership, with the program being classified as urgent. According to the official reply, the estimated cost of the work was Rs13.29 lakh. After adding 18% GST of approximately Rs2.39 lakh, the total expenditure comes to about Rs15.66 lakh.
Administration's Defense and Procedural Questions
The official letter stated that since the work was considered urgent, it was executed immediately, with the proposal to be placed before the standing committee for administrative approval at a later date as per procedure. The department also mentioned that the work was carried out through a contractor registered with the civic body, and that the proposal would be processed under relevant provisions of municipal financial rules.
However, Jha strongly contests this justification. "If the work was urgent, the civic administration could have issued a short tender of seven days. Instead, the work was directly awarded, which raises serious questions about transparency and adherence to rules," he asserted, emphasizing that urgency cannot override statutory tender norms.
Financial Details and Pending Approvals
The letter by PWD (project) executive engineer Alpana Patane further clarifies that payment for the work will be made under the appropriate budget head once the proposal receives formal approval. She also acknowledged that the expenditure incurred for the renovation of chambers of office-bearers, which had been carried out, would be tabled before the standing committee for approval.
This issue has surfaced amid heightened scrutiny over civic spending following the formation of the new general body. Previous reports indicated that the NMC spent crores of rupees on the renovation of about 22 chambers, as well as arrangements for swearing-in ceremonies of the mayor, deputy mayor, and chairpersons of various committees.
Political Fallout and Demands for Transparency
Jha has now demanded comprehensive information, including:
- The detailed estimate of the work
- The contractor selection process
- Administrative approvals obtained
- Complete expenditure records
The matter is expected to trigger significant political debate in upcoming civic meetings, with opposition corporators likely to question the administration over alleged violations of procurement rules. This controversy highlights ongoing concerns about transparency and accountability in municipal governance, particularly regarding substantial public expenditures without proper competitive processes.
