17,500 benches installed in 3 years, MLAs to spend Rs1cr more

Nagpur: Even after 17,562 benches were installed across the city in the last three financial years, six elected representatives have allocated Rs1.01 crore from MLA Local Area Development Funds in the last financial year, asking Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to install thousands of more benches in their assembly constituencies.
NMC has received letters from elected representatives like MLAs Vikas Thakre, Vikas Kumbhare, Mohan Mate, and Krishna Khopade, and MLC Abhijeet Wanjari. Their letters were issued in the last financial year, said sources close to the development, adding they have insisted that the works be completed fast due to the impending civic elections.
Acting swiftly, NMC’s district planning and development committee (DPDC) cell has already initiated the process to install benches in their constituencies within a couple of months. Sources close to the development said the cell has already issued work orders to the tune of over Rs1 crore.
Though the DPDC cell refused to divulge the number of benches to be installed, sources said highest numbers of benches were recommended by south Nagpur MLA Mohan Mate. As per sources, he has allocated almost Rs35 lakh for benches in his constituency. “The MLA sent almost 12 letters to the NMC for the purpose,” said sources.
Kumbhare, who suggested six places in his central Nagpur constituency, has allocated Rs19.55 lakh for benches through six letters of recommendation to the DPDC cell. Wanjari and Khopde allocated Rs8.93 lakh and Rs15.35 lakh for erecting benches in the city. Thakre also allocated Rs11.63 lakh for the purpose.
TOI has earlier exposed how the cash strapped NMC spent Rs11.91 crore on installing 17,562 benches in the last three financial years — 2019-20, 2020-21 and 2021-22. TOI had also highlighted how NMC procured the benches by paying Rs3,000 extra per bench. Against a cost price of Rs4,000, NMC procured them for Rs7,000 each.
At least five different departments – especially the public works department and zonal offices – were actively involved in the alleged scam. Not only public places, NMC also installed benches in private premises.
Sources close to the development claimed the scam is a fallout of the quotation system being followed by the civic body. “Instead of inviting tenders, the concerned department directly allocates works by inviting quotations. Contractors who pay more commission get the work,” sources claimed.
Sources alleged that engineers from NMC and elected representatives charge 10% to 15% as commission for the work from contractors. As it is a source of easy income, contractors without any second thoughts, pay the commission. “In many cases, contractors paid the commission but did not deliver benches,” sources added.
“Not only benches, similar scam can be unearthed in purchasing manhole covers,” the sources said.
This scam is just the tip of the iceberg, sources said, adding municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B should seek the help of police commissioner Amitesh Kumar to probe the scam.
Former standing committee chairman Prakash Bhoyar refuted the allegations that elected representatives demand commission from contractors for recommending works. He claimed that he too had spent money on installing benches in his prabhag. “But there were no irregularities,” he clarified.
“If they support their allegation with proof, we will take strictest action against the concerned person,” said administrator and municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B, who is all set to audit the benches installed across the city.