Navi Mumbai’s contractor not allowed tender participation after many offence accusations

Navi Mumbai: Repeated alleged offences of a contractor has forced Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to ban the contractor to take part in future tender .The allegations are against Pritam Mhatre for supplying worms in food packets given to flood affected persons around 15 days ago, illegal shed construction at Phadke auditorium and heft of mics, irregularities in educational item supply, etc. The food containing worms was supplied to the torrential rain related flood hit Bhim Nagar slum dwellers temporarily accommodated in New Panvel. The illegal shed allegedly constructed close to the generator area of Phadke auditorium was removed on Aug 28.Poor quality food was alos allegedly provided to the police deployed in Ganesh idol immersion in 2024. Moreover, there are allegations of educational item purchase irregularities in Aug 2019. While providing housing keeping, management, security guards among other services in the Phadke auditorium, two mics were stolen in 2018.Activist, Ganesh Waghilkar said, "Had stringent action been taken against the contractor in the previous instances, the latest issues would not have surfaced. The civic body stores department provides undue favour to the contractor. We demand stringent penal action against the contracting firm besides their black listing."Mhatre said, "The worm was found in one food packet among 500 packets supplied. PCMC has temporarily allowed us the shed for warming food items. All other allegations are baseless."PCMC stores department head, Prakash Gaikwad said, "The test report of the food samples taken for testing is awaited. The contractor will continue till a new one is appointed. The contractor will not be allowed to participate in the upcoming tender for which the process is underway."