Mumbai: Dismissing allegations of irregularities in awarding contract to building dam, Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde said that she did not favour any contractor. The BJP MLA who returned from abroad on Monday night found herself in yet another controversy. In another charge of irregularity against Munde, she has been accused of awarding a contract to build dam to a private company without tender.
Rural Development and Water Conservation Minister Munde said, “I did not favour any contractor. Ratnakar Gutte is from the NCP, he is known equally to all parties. I did not intervene on his behalf to award contracts for building check dams in Jalna. The allegations are baseless.”
Munde had allegedly approved a contract to a company headed by industrialist Ratnakar Gutte to build dams in jalna district. The move has come under scrutiny because though the company was the lowest bidder in the e-tendering, it was disqualified under a technicality. Munde’s supporters have alleged a witch-hunt by the opposition against her.
The charges surfaced even as she is being held accused in the Rs-206 crore chikki scam. During her tenure as Maharashtra women and child development minister, Munde had allegedly cleared purchase of chikki, mats and books for Rs 206 crore without floating tenders for the same. According to rules, any government purchase above Rs 3 lakh has to be done through e-tendering.
Munde had reportedly cleared 24 government resolutions on the same day. Meanwhile, troubles have mounted for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as Education Minister Vinod Tawde is accused of alleged irregularities in government contracts worth Rs 191 crore.
Bureau Report
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