Nagpur: NCP leader Ajit Pawar has alleged that Maharashtra Building and Other Construction Workers’ Welfare Board (MBOCWWB) purchased several items far above the central government price through tenders worth Rs8,000 crore. The former deputy chief minister alleged that labour minister Sambhaji Nilangekar-Patil was involved in the scam as the tenders were floated between November 2017 and January 2018, when the minister was heading the board.Pawar told TOI the cost of a plastic mat was Rs350 as per central government’s e-marketplace. “The board approved a rate of Rs480 plus 12% GST. A mosquito net, which costs Rs165 was bought for Rs485 plus GST. The cost of essential kit of the Board is Rs5,185 and that of safety kit is Rs5,245. The cost of these items in e-marketplace is less than half,” he added.He further alleged that the purchases were made bypassing the six-member purchase committee headed by the labour commissioner. “Some of the suppliers have dubious backgrounds. For example, CBI has filed a chargesheet against IndoAllied for supplying substandard material to hostels run by the tribal development department. National Cooperative Consumer Federation too has blacklisted this company. The Supreme Court had asked the government to constitute a special investigation team (SIT) to probe supply of substandard items by the company under ‘Take Home Ration’ scheme,” added Pawar.“Similarly, Telesto Coment and Mirah Dekor, the two companies shortlisted for supplying some items too are controversial. SC had ordered attachment of properties of the two owners of Mirah Dekor — Kiran Goenka and Gaurav Goenka — as they were accused of duping 18 lakh investors to the tune of Rs4,900 crore. Nashik police had arrested the father of Kiran and Gaurav — Omprakash — for running a Rs7,500 crore Ponzi scheme. One of the directors of Telesto is a member of this Goenka family,” said the NCP leader.According to Pawar, the board had decided beforehand to award tenders to selected companies. “Twenty-two companies had bid for supply of safety kits. Only four qualified in the technical bids, and three for the financial bid. Seven companies had bid for supply of essential kits but only four qualified for the technical bid and three for financial. Interestingly, Gunia Commercial, IndoAllied Protein Foods, and Technocraft Associates qualified for the financial bids for both tenders,” he said.Pawar also said testing of safety and essential kits should have been done by a government laboratory. However, the board asked a private company Super Indents to do the job.Despite repeated attempts labour minister Nilangekar-Patil could not be contacted.

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