Pimpri: It took 10 long years for Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to take action against its officials involved in the irregularities in purchase of underground electricity cable in 2007-08. PCMC Commissioner Shravan Hardikar ordered recovery of PCMC’s losses from the salaries of concerned officials.
The inquiry committee was formed when Dr Shrikar Pardeshi was Commissioner of PCMC. But, after his transfer, there was no progress in the case. After change in guards in the civic body, the probe has been accelerated and the recovery of losses were attached to the salaries of 11 officials involved in the case. Two key officials involved in the case were retired from PCMC service. The losses will be recovered from their retirement benefit.
The cable scam pertains to purchase of underground cable for Rs 2.5 crore by the ‘C’ zonal office of PCMC in 2007-2008. In the case, final bill amount approved by the PCMC was Rs 12 crore. It was revealed that the cable was purchased without following the due tender process and permission of the civic body’s Standing Committee.
Moreover, cables worth Rs 3 crore from a top brand was provided to a contractor by the PCMC for the works awarded. However, when it came to returning the excess cable after the work was completed, he gave back sub-standard cable of a little known manufacturer to the PCMC, allegedly with the help of officials. The contractor is reportedly close to a former mayor.
Besides, retired executive engineer from electrical department Milind Kapile and Development Engineer Ashok Surgude, Executive Engineer Sandesh Chavan, Deputy Engineer Eknath Patil, Manik Chavan, Nitin Deshmukh, Junior Engineer Prakash Katore, Damyanti Pawar, Mahesh Kavale, Akbar Sheikh and Ashok Adsule are going to face the action.
