Maha govt to probe scam in debris removal from secretariat

The Maharashtra government said Thursday that an inquiry is being conducted in the contracts given for removal of debris from the state secretariat premises here in 2015. Congress legislator Anant Gadgil raised the issue in the Legislative Council, alleging a scam.

Gadgil said that when the renovation of ministers' chambers was underway between February to August 2015, trucks which removed debris made around 650 trips, as per the official records. "It is very surprising. How come so much debris was removed from the Mantralaya (secretariat)," he said.

Pravin Pote, Minister of State for Public Works Department, said an inquiry is being conducted in this matter by Chief Engineer of the Nashik division of the PWD. Pote said 20 contracts for removal of debris were given to Labour Cooperative Society for Rs 67.69 lakh during this period.

The debris created by the work taken up before the new government came to power in 2014 were also removed, he said. If any scam is found, strict action will be taken against the guilty, the minister assured.