Poor quality masks supplied to PCMC: Probe panel report
PCMC purchased face masks worth Rs 1.70cr to distribute among citizens; REPRESENTATIVE IMAGE
NCP alleges ‘vested interest’; will send notice to suppliers and recover amount paid, says official
Aprobe conducted by a panel appointed byPimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has found face masks distributed to citizens free of cost in PCMC jurisdiction to be of substandard quality.
The three-member committee held the investigation after theNationalist Congress Party (NCP) had raised red flag over the alleged poor quality of the protective gears distributed to citizens in March and April.
The civic body reportedly procured face masks worth Rs 1.70 crore at the behest of ruling party members and gave them away to hospitals and virus-sensitive areas in its limits when the pandemic hit the city. Later, during a general body meeting, elected members from the NCP alleged that the purchase process was mired in irregularities, following which PCMC chief set up a body to probe the mater.
“The finding has revealed that the masks supplied by Gurunoor Enterprises andSai Enterprises were not up to the mark. The material used did not meet the standard specified by PCMC. The report has prompted PCMC chief to take further action,” said assistant commissioner Manoj Lonkar, who was in the investigating team.
Earlier, PCMC had approached state-run jails and women and child development department to provide them with masks, but they were unable to meet the huge demand of 15 lakh masks. Later, civic authorities procured a total of 17 lakh face masks from local supplier at the rate of Rs 10 per mask. At present, PCMC is directly purchasing face masks from manufacturing units.
“The two suppliers roped in have provided inferior quality masks to us. We have to, however, verify the number of substandard masks supplied. We will issue a notice to the suppliers and even recover the money paid for the inferior quality masks. The commissioner will decide whether or not to blacklist the companies,” said a senior PCMC officer on condition of anonymity.
When asked, NCP leader Sanjog Waghire said, “The culprits should be brought to book. Even PCMC has faltered as it did not verify the quality of the product before going ahead with mass distribution,” further alleging PCMC officials concerned and ruling party members of having “vested interest” in procurement of the masks.
Aprobe conducted by a panel appointed by
The three-member committee held the investigation after the
The civic body reportedly procured face masks worth Rs 1.70 crore at the behest of ruling party members and gave them away to hospitals and virus-sensitive areas in its limits when the pandemic hit the city. Later, during a general body meeting, elected members from the NCP alleged that the purchase process was mired in irregularities, following which PCMC chief set up a body to probe the mater.
“The finding has revealed that the masks supplied by Gurunoor Enterprises and
Earlier, PCMC had approached state-run jails and women and child development department to provide them with masks, but they were unable to meet the huge demand of 15 lakh masks. Later, civic authorities procured a total of 17 lakh face masks from local supplier at the rate of Rs 10 per mask. At present, PCMC is directly purchasing face masks from manufacturing units.
“The two suppliers roped in have provided inferior quality masks to us. We have to, however, verify the number of substandard masks supplied. We will issue a notice to the suppliers and even recover the money paid for the inferior quality masks. The commissioner will decide whether or not to blacklist the companies,” said a senior PCMC officer on condition of anonymity.
When asked, NCP leader Sanjog Waghire said, “The culprits should be brought to book. Even PCMC has faltered as it did not verify the quality of the product before going ahead with mass distribution,” further alleging PCMC officials concerned and ruling party members of having “vested interest” in procurement of the masks.
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