Nagpur. In the meeting of the District Planning Committee, a debate broke out between Congress MLA Vikas Thackeray and BJP MLAs for some time when Thackeray blamed the then BJP government for the closure of Ambazari Udyan for four years. He said that the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Bhawan built in the garden was demolished by the contractor by installing JCB and 100 sandalwood trees were cut from there. For this, neither NOC nor information was given from Municipal Corporation, NIT or Government. He also said that there is anger in the Ambedkarite society over the demolition of Ambedkar Bhavan.
Even after complaining to the collector, action was not taken against the contractor, whereas there should be an FIR against him. He called it a ‘sin’ of the BJP government. As soon as he said this, BJP MLA Krishna Khopde, Praveen Datke got angry on Thackeray. He demanded to take back his words. For some time there was a heated argument between the two sides. Foster Minister Nitin Raut and Animal Promotion Minister Sunil Kedar called the issue a state government issue, but Thackeray remained adamant on the demand for FIR against the contractor.
Separate meeting in 8 days
Thackeray told in the meeting that MTDC was assigned for the development of Ambazari during the BJP government. Its officers are telling Ambedkar Bhavan to fall in a strong storm, while it was broken by the contractor by putting JCB, whose video they have with them. No one’s NOC was even taken. He said that even though the work contract was given during the time of BJP government, but the building was demolished during the time of this government.
Kedar intervened and said that the foster minister will hold a separate meeting in 8 days on this subject. This is the meeting of DPC and the juniors sitting here are also watching this. Raut said that he had taken a meeting in which the contractor is ready to re-construct Ambedkar Bhawan. By taking the second meeting, they will take detailed information on this subject and a decision will be taken.
Below rate re-tender
BJP MLA Praveen Datke said that the tenders issued from the DPC fund are taken by the contractors at 30-40 percent bill rate. After that they do poor quality work. The Guardian Minister directed to constitute a committee under the chairmanship of the Collector to check the quality of the works done by such contractors. At the same time, member Vedprakash Arya demanded that the 30-40 percent fund which is saved due to tender at below rate goes back.
On this, the Guardian Minister issued a re-tender of the remaining fund and gave the ruling to do other development work in the meeting so that the unspent fund does not have to be sent back. MLA Mohan Mate raised the issue of closure of MRI machine in medical and demanded that an agency should be appointed and it should be given the work of investigation so that the poor do not have to go astray. He said that there was an announcement to give 10 crores to the super specialty but only 1 crore was given.
Poll approved but not reached
ZIP member Kunda Raut said that electric poles were approved in many villages in the year 2016-17 but have not arrived yet. He alleged that the Raipur gram panchayats of Bokhara, Godhni and Hingna were discriminated against during the BJP rule. On the instructions of the foster minister, the officer replied that a circular had been issued by the government directing that the works should not be done in the gram panchayats whose electricity bills are due. On that Raut assured to take detailed information.
Kunda Raut told them that Bokhara, Godhni, Raipur gram panchayat has no fatigue left. Despite this, approved poles have not been installed. He also raised the issue of non-completion of the tap scheme being run by Magipra since 2018. He said that the work of 8.50 crore has not been completed yet. Only 1750 tap connections have been given. A member raised the issue of Dahegaon Rangari not getting a single rupee of development fund in the last 8 years.