Panchkula MC overspent Rs 1 crore: Probe panel

Sanjay Bumbroo
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, January 29

The local Municipal Corporation (MC)overspent about Rs one crore on refurbishing the roundabouts in the city. The work to beautify eight roundabouts was allotted to the contractor for Rs 2.84 crore.

The observation was made by a three-member committee, which was formed to probe into the construction of rotaries, in its 55-page report submitted to Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain today for further action.

According to highly placed sources, the committee had pointed out serious flaws in its report on overspending by the MC on horticulture and electrical works. The sources said the report clearly mentioned that there were misinterpretations of the Haryana Schedule of Rates and products converted into non-Schedule items to buy them at exorbitant prices.

Sources said as per the report, the contractor charged Rs 45 to 50 each for thousands of shrubs planted at the eight refurbished roundabouts against the market price of Rs 2 per unit. Not only this, the contractor planted normal grass at roundabouts for which more than double amount was charged. On an average, there was an overspending of about Rs 15 to 20 lakh in refurbishing each roundabout.

The inquiry report submitted to the minister stated that though the specification of the work was similar in all roundabouts, the contractor had mentioned different rates in the work order for white river stones used at the rotaries.

For the Geeta Chowk roundabout of Sector 5-6-7-8, the contractor had purchased river stones of the size 2 to 2.5 cms for Rs 2,400 square metre while he had charged Rs 2,900 for the same stones at the Sector 4-5-10-11 rotary. For the Sector 7-8-17-18 roundabout, only Rs 1,990 per square metre were charged. For the Sector 11-12-12A-14 roundabout, the contractor had charged Rs 2,500 per square metre for white river stones.

The report also mentioned that while the market rate for granite stone with specification of 15 mm to 18 mm thickness was Rs 75 to Rs 200 per square metre, the contractor charged at Rs 450 to Rs 500 square metre even as the quality of the granite was inferior.

Similarly, fountains available in the market for Rs 2 to 4 lakh were proposed to be installed at a cost of Rs 20 to 22 lakh at the roundabouts, the panel stated in the report. The committee also pointed out that for one electrical point in fountain, the MC paid Rs 1,500 against the market rate of Rs 400.

Confirming the same, Vishal Seth, technical adviser to the Haryana Government, said he had submitted the joint report of the inquiry committee to ULB Minister Kavita Jain today. However, he refused to divulge the details of the report prepared by the committee.

Contractor JAcked up prices

• The report prepared by the three-member committee formed to probe construction of roundabouts in Panchkula also mentioned that while the market rate for granite stone with specification of 15 mm to 18 mm thickness was Rs 75 to Rs 200 per square metre, the contractor charged at Rs 450 to Rs 500 square metre even as the quality of the granite was inferior.
• Similarly, fountains available in the market for Rs 2 to 4 lakh were proposed to be installed at a cost of Rs 20 to 22 lakh at the roundabouts, the panel stated in the report.