Vigilance inquiry ordered after former minister writes to Surat civic body over tender for supply of tertiary treatment water to MNCs

The Surat Municipal Commissioner has ordered a vigilance inquiry into the entire episode.

SMC supplies tertiary treatment water to textile industries in Pandesara, and generates yearly income of around Rs 140 crore.

In his letter, seen by The Indian Express, Moradiya wrote: “According to the SOR (Schedule of Rates) of the government, the new tertiary treatment plant should be estimated at Rs 900 crore. Before the tender procedure, the work was put forward before the municipal commissioner to get consent for the tender procedure. The estimated cost of the project mentioned in the proposal was Rs 1,600 crore.”

The letter further stated: “SMC commissioner checked and found that the cost of the project is higher than SOR; responsibility of the project lies in the hands of incharge city engineer Ketan Desai. He was removed from the post and given charge of the store.”

Moradiya, in his letter, further said, “Disciplinary actions were taken against incharge additional city engineer, but the city engineer (Pandya) is also equally responsible for such an act as he had signed on the proposal.”

Moradiya, the current BJP MLA of Katargam, told The Indian Express, “By doing such an act, both the officials are equally responsible for the loss which was likely to be incurred by SMC. We have demanded that the State Vigilance Commission should interfere in the incident and carry out a probe against both the officials. Probe should also be initiated on their role in other mega projects of SMC.”

Despite repeated attempts, Pandya and Desai could not be contacted for comment.