Rs 22.5-crore works in Panipat re-approved

Tribune News Service

Panipat, November 19

The Municipal Corporation (MC) has got fresh approval of Rs 22.5 crore for development works in the city from the Urban Local Bodies (ULB) Directorate. The MC Commissioner has directed the engineering wing officials to make fresh estimates of the development works, according to the norms and requirements.

Earlier, the government had stopped all works of development of parks and roads amounting to Rs 22.5 crore following a complaint by former councillor Dushyant Bhatt.

Bhatt, a BJP leader, on September 28 filed a complaint with Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar alleging corruption in the allotment of tenders for roads, parks and other development projects.

Bhatt alleged that the MC had issued tenders worth Rs 22.50 crore for the development of parks though many parks were in a good condition while some others were being renovated.

He stated in the complaint that many tenders had been allotted on single bids to facilitate some contractors. Following the complaint, Khattar had directed Vishal Seth, technical adviser, Urban Local Bodies, to probe the matter. Besides, a special investigation team (SIT) headed by Mahipal Singh, Superintending Engineer, is also conducting a inquiry into the matter on the direction of the CM.

Priyanka Soni, MC Commissioner, said, the tender details sought by Vishal Seth, technical adviser, had been provided to him for the inquiry. Besides, the SIT was also inquiring into the matter and no report had been sent to them yet, she added. The ULB Directorate had given fresh approval of Rs 22.5 crore for development works in the city but not old tenders, she added.