All the major civic tenders are approved before election code of conduct is implemented.

Projects worth over Rs 120 crore have been pushed through in a matter of two days in the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) General Body and Standing Committee Meeting held on Monday and Wednesday, respectively at NMMC Headquarters, Belapur. The city corporators are ensuring that all the major civic tenders are approved before election code of conduct is implemented. However, not many corporators are happy with this move. "Authorities and some corporators are trying to push maximum civic tenders before code of conduct is implemented and in the process they are allotting excess work to some contractors," stated Ravindra Ithape, Nationalist Congress Party's (NCP) Nerul corporator. He added that altogether 29 condominium work tenders worth Rs 36 crore have been given among 13 contractors."Some of the contractors have been given work beyond their eligibility. Swastik Infologics has been given work worth over Rs 13 crore, while its eligibility limit is just Rs 3 crore. It has received minimum seven contracts. Similarly, the name of Sriraj Enterprises is repeated any many places. At one place, the corporation is speaking about transparency and on other hand, they are favouring personal interest of some politicians," Ithape added. In the General Body Meeting also major project of Children's Park worth Rs 52 crore and other civic work worth Rs 20 crore are approved. Besides, renting of shops of Shirvane's Shopping Complex proposal was initially not approved by any corporator, rather 13 corporators opposed it. "Ideally, once the proposal is opposed by maximum corporators, it should be disapproved by the House and should come back for discussion only after three months. But, ruling party took up the proposal in the same meeting and sanctioned it. This itself indicates how ruling party is using their 'power' in the corporation's work," stated Namdeo Bhagat, Congress' Nerul Corporator.However, Standing Committee Chairman Sandeep Naik denied all the allegations and said, "All corporators are unanimously approving all civic tender proposals, because corporation election will be held next year, and all of them will be answerable to the public. Therefore, they are giving immediate approvals to civic tenders like condominium work and so on." Naik added, "The works under JNNURM has to be finished within time, otherwise Union government won't sanction funds for next phase of works. So, we are ensuring that all the approvals are sanctioned as soon as possible so that city is benefited maximum." When contacted, Municipal Commissioner Vijay Nahata stated, "Each condominium work proposal is treated as independent case and contractors applying for this work should have minimum experience of doing similarly work of worth Rs 3crore. In that case, he can apply for one or more tenders. Besides, the tender is being allotted considering the eligibility and lowest quotation put up by the contractors."Members of NMMC's standing committee are a busy lot these days