Inquiry into MC sweeping machines: Councillors reverse their decision

An agenda was placed before the House in September to discuss the issue of the maintenance contract for three sweeping machines purchased last year as their warranty period had come to an end.

It,however,led to a debate and questions were raised about the functioning of the machines.

After the debate,the Mayor had recommended a vigilance probe into the anomalies in the purchase and functioning of the machines.

During the meeting today,however,some councillors objected to the decision of conducting an inquiry. Councillor Ravinder Pal Singh said three officials — Additional Commissioner P K Sharma,Joint Commissioner T P S Phoolka and the then Medical Officer of Health Dr G C Bansal — had signed the official papers when the machines were received and approved their status.

“Two of the officials are still in the Municipal Corporation. An inquiry on the issue should be held in the House rather than assigning it to the Vigilance. A committee of councillors could be constituted to conduct the inquiry,” said Ravinder.

Councillor MPS Chawla said the MC has never complained about the functioning of the machines to the company. Similar machines are functioning in Delhi and other places. He questioned why the Mayor was interested in getting a vigilance inquiry conducted when the councillors were against it.

Councillor Chander Mukhi Sharma,however,pointed out defects in the machines and said each machine was expected to clean 35,000 sq km of road,indicating the three machines were capable of cleaning the city roads in 65 hours without the help of any sweeper.

Since this has not happened,an inquiry should be conducted,he added.

It was finally decided that the issue would be removed from the minutes of the meeting.

Mayor Kamlesh said a discussion on the issue would be held in the next House Meet.