The Eknath Shinde government has ordered a special audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) into the works worth Rs 12,000 crores carried out by the BMC during the COVID waves of the last two years.
This move by the Shinde government is clearly aimed at hitting out at the Uddhav Thackeray faction of Shiv Sena ahead of municipal corporation elections due in a couple of months. Shiv Sena has been controlling the BMC for the past two-and-a-half decades.
The BJP had levelled several allegations of corruption and mismanagement during the Covid period. BJP legislators had demanded an inquiry into Covid care centres and related works carried out by the municipal corporation. Deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis then announced that an inquiry would be conducted into various works undertaken by the BMC.
The CAG Audit of BMC will look into the following allegations of the Covid centres scam. Running of Covid centres and contract to provide medical services were given by BMC (MCGM) in a non-transparent manner e.g. the Lifeline Hospital Management Services was given a contract for five centres. The company did not exist when the contract was given on 26th June 2020. Subsequently, it is stated that it is an unregistered firm. The contract of around Rs.100 crore was given in a non-transparent manner.
2. Purchases during Covid: Rampant corruption in the name of medical emergencies was observed in purchases by the BMC during Covid.
3. The BMC bought Remdesivir at Rs 1568 per vial, the order was given for 2 lakh vials on 7th April 2020. The same day, Haffkine Institute of Government of Maharashtra bought Remdesivir vial at Rs.668 per vial and Mira Bhayandar Municipal Corporation also bought Remdesivir at Rs. 668. While going in-depth, it is observed that it was a corrupt contract carried out in connivance with the supplier.
4. For purchases of various materials at various Covid centres, extraordinary power was given to the Assistant Commissioner at the ward level, who also indulged in rampant corruption. The manner in which the Covid centre contracts were given also needs a special audit.
3. Dahisar land acquisition/ purchase scam: MCGM purchased/bought land at Eksar/ Dahisar from Nishalp Realties (Alpesh Ajmera) and paid Rs 349 crore. It is observed that Alpesh Ajmera bought the same land from Mascarehans and family for Rs 2.55 crore. Several municipal mommissioners have strongly objected to the purchase of this land. The builder has gone to court and demanded Rs.900 crore. This is one of the biggest scams of MCGM needed to be investigated in detail.
4. Oxygen, oxygen generation plant purchase scam: In June-July, 2021 BMC ordered the purchase of Oxygen Generation Plants to be installed in various hospitals. One company named Highway Construction Company was given a contract on 16.06.2021 in a non-transparent manner. Minister Aslam Sheikh also objected the same. The Highway Construction Company was blacklisted. While going into details, it is observed that there is a big scam in purchasing oxygen, oxygen tank, and oxygen plants supply.
5. Involvement of MCGM official in Covid contracts: it is alleged that Manish Radhakrishna Valanju gave the contract of his area i.e., Kurla 'L' Ward to Genehealth Diagnostic Private Limited Company. The company is connected with his father Radhakrishna Balakrishna Valanju. RCPCR Covid testing contract has been given at various wards in a non-transparent manner to newborn companies or inexperienced companies or the companies which are connected with the ruling party, political leader or BMC officials.
