Furore over contract for cremation services

NASHIK: Members of the

Nashik

Municipal Corporation's standing committee came down heavily on the administration on Thursday alleging that the contract for free cremation services was given to the very contractor whose tender was not approved.

The members also questioned the basis on which the contract as awarded to two agencies, creating confusion in the meeting.

The administration had presented a proposal to the standing committee seeking approval of Rs 37 lakh to be paid to the contractor providing free funeral services.

Ranjana Pawar

of NCP said, "If Nandkumar

Malpani

had already been awarded the contract, then why was Ramchandra Hirve was continuing the work."

Dinkar Patil of BJP, Manisha Hekare of Shiv Sena and other standing committee members demanded that both the contractors be summoned to the

NMC

and the issue be resolved.

Free funeral services like providing wood for the pyre, dung, ghee and kerosene in all the crematoriums of the city is done by contractors under a three-year contract. Tenders were floated in 2014 after the contract for Panchavati division got over. Despite the work order being given to a new contractor, the previous contractor brought in excess material and got his contract extended for nine months.

Nandkumar Malpani got the contract but when he wanted to take possession of the place, the old contractor, Ramchandra Hirv, brought in excess material and asked the health department to let him continue till his material is exhausted. So he got an extension of three months, and later another three months twice. This way, the contract was extended for nine months without the permission of the standing committee. Both the parties were known to have gone to the court, but the civic administration denied it.

"Malpani did not have the Shop Act license and hence Hirve, who was the next minimum price bidder, was given the contract," said health officer Vijay Dekate.

Chairman of the standing committee Salim Shaikh said, "Summon the contractors and officials and decide who should be given the contract."

Ironically, the standing committee argued over the subject of Rs 37 lakh for two hours but approved other subjects worth Rs 32 crores in a jiffy.