4 days ago
Investigation into Gangapur dam water pipeline will reveal truth, says MLA Dhikale
Nashik: An investigation ordered by Madhuri Misal, the minister of state for urban development, into the controversial Rs 175-crore direct water supply pipeline from the Gangapur dam to Nashik will reveal the truth and be in the interest of the taxpayers of Nashik city," said Rahul Dhikale, the Nashik East MLA.
The work on laying the direct water pipeline from the Gangapur dam to Nashik city is currently underway because the old pipeline, laid about 25 years ago, has been experiencing frequent breakdowns and repairs. Divisional commissioner Praveen Gedam was directed to conduct the inquiry.
Dhikale objected to the work procedure followed by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the contractor in the construction of the pipeline, claiming they did not adhere to the guidelines of the Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran and the terms and conditions outlined by the NMC in the tender awarded to the contractor.
"It is unbelievable that NMC made the payment of Rs 75 crore to the contractor in the beginning when the Rs 175crore work had only commenced and was yet to gather pace," claimed Dhikale, adding that there were other issues as well.
"The contract, as per the guidelines of the MJP, was for laying six metres of pipes each, but the contractor used 12-metre pipes in the work. The contractor neither consulted the MJP nor the NMC regarding this matter.
If it saves on the cost of the works, then that benefit should be transferred to the civic body directly," said the MLA.
He further alleged that the raw materials used for construction were not sourced from the recommended companies and were instead sourced from companies based outside a 200km radius of the city, one of the contract's norms.
This was the reason Dhikale raised the objection in the House, following which the minister of state ordered the inquiry.
