MUMBAI, July 7: The opposition in the Assembly tried to put Housing Minister Suresh Dada Jain on the mat over the construction contract for 10,000 transit camps, given to B G Shirke recently. The Opposition wanted to know why the government had not called for tenders before awarding the contract. They also staged a walkout after raising slogans demanding an inquiry into the contract.

Congress member R R Patil said the contract had been given despite the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members' protest in a Maharashtra Housing and Development Authority (MHADA) meeting against giving the contract under the SRD scheme, to Shirke. Patil alleged that the Cabinet passed the proposal on December 11, 1996 despite objections by BJP Ministers.

Jain was at pains to explain that a GR issued by the State Government in 1984 had awarded the contract to Shirke since his was the only company supplying pre-fabricated houses for the purpose of transit camps. Jain also said the present government was thinking in terms of amending the GR to throw open the competition to other companies.

The Opposition was not satisfied even after Chief Minister Manohar Joshi got up to emphasise that the GR of 1984 was passed by a Congress Government and that Shirke was also given contracts by MHADA, CIDCO and such other government outfits in keeping with the same GR.

The MLAs were not satisfied. Leader of the Opposition Madhukar Pichad alleged that the government which talked about transparency in government had not explained how the contract was given. Samajwadi Party member Sohail Lokhandwala also alleged that the contract was given for illegal consideration. In reply to another question Jain said Shirke had been given contracts worth Rs 16 to 18 crore since 1986, by various government authorities.

The entire Opposition staged a walkout, demanding an inquiry.

Trade and Commerce Minister Pramod Navalkar then requested the Speaker to expunge the remarks of the members who had alleged corruption. The remarks were expunged.

ISPAT STEEL CONTRACT: Sena member Sitaram Dalvi raised a starred question about the purchase of steel from the New Bombay Ispat Industries (Ltd) for various irrigation projects in the State. Several members from the Opposition and ruling parties wanted to know if the company had forged papers to bag the contract.

Minister of State for Irrigation Gulabrao Gawande denied any irregularities in the contract. He said New Bombay Ispat gave the lowest rate among the three bidders for supply of 16000 Metric tonnes of steel since 1988.

When the Opposition was not satisfied, Minister Eknath Khadse assured the House that the prevailing market price, when the contract was signed, would be placed before the House.

GUTKHA: Health Minister Daulatrao Aher today told the State Assembly that the State Government had filed cases against four gutkha manufacturers and would file case against three more shortly. He was replying to questions from Kirit Somaiya and others about the action taken by the Food and Drug Administration on gutkha (containing tobacco).

The Minister said he would be putting up a proposal before the State Cabinet for taking up the issue of banning gutkha with the Centre. The brands on which action had been initiated were Goa Gutkha, Hero, Pan Parag, Zee, and Manikchand.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.