Lakhs spent to procure ML Oil; but it is sold out to local hardware shops

Advertisement

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) health department, on the approval of standing committee, is required to spend lakhs of rupees on purchase of mosquito-killer ML Oil every year, but unfortunately it has come to the light that the same oil is sold out to the hardware dealers in nearby area. It is well confirmed by the departmental employees on the condition of anonymity, and the officials of health department as well as those of the Zone are also involved in this scandal.

What is most disheartening is that the standing committee of NMC knows it well that the said ML Oil is not quite effective in eradication of mosquitoes, as they do not die at all by its spray; rather they become unconscious for a while after spray and they get reactivated to infest the area. It is quite against the civic accountability on the part of the elected members of the NMC’s standing committee including its chairman and also the NMC administration which knowingly wastes about Rs 40 lakh every year on purchase of this ineffective oil. Should it be inferred that all bind and ill-knowledgeable members constitute the standing committee that whenever any proposal is tabled it should be passed without considering its pros and cons?

According to sources, whenever any proposal is tabled before the committee the members concerned do have their latent self-interest in the deal and even the purchase committee wishes to get its hands washed in the flow. It is learnt that all in the committee have their individual interest on personal commission to the bargaining extent. This unfortunately happens in case of every committee of NMC, for its members know how to exploit public money.

On the condition of anonymity, a health worker informed, while the demand of ML Oil for spray is in mili-litres its illegal sale to hardware shopkeepers is in litres. What has become understandable by now is that the Ruling Party in the NMC is deliberately making hue and cry about the financial crisis in the NMC just to fool the citizens as well as the state government to mislead and extract more grant.

– Rajeev Ranjan Kushwaha ( rajeev.nagpurtoday@gmail.com )