Probe into Magh Mela tenders under way

Tenders approved by district health department for the construction of temporary toilets in Magh Mela has stirred a fresh controversy with a Samajwadi Party MLA demanding an independent inquiry into the tenders approved by the department.

Tenders approved by district health department for the construction of temporary toilets in Magh Mela has stirred a fresh controversy with a Samajwadi Party MLA demanding an independent inquiry into the tenders approved by the department.

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Acting on the complaints the district magistrate has constituted a three-member committee headed by ADM (Civil Supplies) to inquire into the matter.

In a letter to the district magistrate the SP MLA from Handia has alleged that instead of approving the tender of M/s Rajesh Agarwal which quoted Rs 92 for the construction of per PRAI-type toilet seat the district health department approved tender of another firm which had quoted Rs 138 for the same work.

The department also constructed toilets in different camps by charging fees but the money was not deposited with the government. Further, the tender of three feet pipe was approved but one-and-a-half feet pipe was used in the toilets, the MLA alleged.

He said there are also serious irregularities in the purchase of wood, drum, kerosene oil, coal, bamboo pole and other perishable items purchased by the department for Magh Mela.

On being contacted the Mela stores incharge, Dr Murari Verma, said that all the tenders were approved in a very transparent manner leaving no scope for any kind of doubt or irregularity. The first phase of inquiry is already over and the members were quite satisfied over the way the work was carried out by the department. Moreover the firms who fail to get tenders often raise such type of issues, he said.