Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) came under the scanner for allegedly bypassing mandatory tender norms while awarding work related to the swearing-in ceremony. The total cost of the event, held at NMC headquarters, exceeded Rs10 lakh — the threshold requiring competitive bidding under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act.Congress corporator Abhijeet Jha has sought detailed information from the civic body’s Public Works Department (PWD) regarding the process through which the work order was awarded. Jha said that the administration directly allotted the work to a Mahal-based decorator without issuing even a short-term tender. He further claimed that the civic body did not invite quotations from any decorator either, and went ahead with awarding the work to the said contractor.Documents obtained by Jha from the PWD showed that the arrangements were made following directions from civic leadership, as the programme was considered urgent. According to the official reply, the estimated cost of the work was Rs13.29 lakh. After adding 18% GST of about Rs 2.39 lakh, the total expenditure comes to approximately Rs15.66 lakh.The letter further stated that since the work was considered urgent, it was executed immediately, and the proposal would later be placed before the standing committee for administrative approval as per procedure. The department also mentioned that the work was carried out through a contractor registered with the civic body, and that the proposal would be processed under the relevant provisions of municipal financial rules.However, Jha said that urgency cannot override statutory tender norms. “If the work was urgent, the civic administration could have issued a short tender of seven days. Instead, the work was directly awarded, which raises serious questions about transparency and adherence to rules,” he said.The letter by PWD (project) executive engineer Alpana Patane also mentions that payment for the work will be made under the appropriate budget head once the proposal receives formal approval. She also admitted that the expenditure incurred for the renovation of chambers of office-bearers, which had been carried out, would be tabled before the standing committee for approval.The issue surfaced amid scrutiny over civic spending following the formation of the new general body. TOI had earlier reported that the NMC spent crores of rupees on the renovation of about 22 chambers, as well as arrangements for the swearing-in ceremonies of the mayor, deputy mayor, and chairpersons of the standing and transport committees.Jha has now demanded further information, including the detailed estimate, contractor selection process, administrative approvals, and expenditure records. The matter is expected to trigger political debate in upcoming civic meetings, with Opposition corporators likely to question the administration over alleged violations of procurement rules.
