HC to BBMP, govt over sweeping machine procurement

The high court on Friday issued emergent notices to the government and the BBMP with regard to a petition seeking action over a scam by the Palike while procuring truck-mounted sweeping machines.

A division bench, comprising Justice B Veerappa and Justice Sunil Dutt Yadav, was hearing a petition filed by R Gopal.

The petition sought directions to conduct a court-monitored investigation by a special investigation team or the Central Bureau of Investigation into the violation during the process of procurement of the machines.

The petitioner stated that the BBMP had procured the machines at the rate of self-propelled sweeping machines. The truck-mounted machines cost about Rs 65 lakh while the self-propelled machines cost about Rs 1.18 crore each. The civic body had got eight of those machines.

The respondents also accepted the fact, but have not taken any action against this and the tender has also not been cancelled, the petitioner said.

The petitioner contended that the rate at which the machines were brought and the actual cash operation, maintenance and administrative costs were almost double than the prevailing market price.

This is creating a huge loss for the exchequer and is a waste of public money. Despite this, the respondent has not initiated any action, the petitioner said.