PCMC standing committee defers Rs60 crore budget proposal over alleged irregularities

Pune: Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation’s (PCMC) standing committee on Wednesday deferred a proposal to adjust budgetary provisions for works worth Rs60.18 crore, after members raised questions over alleged irregularities in the payment of bills without mandatory approvals from the standing committee and general body.The proposal sought to regularise changes in allocations made for 14 works in the revised budget estimates for 2025–26. The civic administration had moved the proposal after bills totaling Rs60.18 crore were paid by altering provisions for various works, allegedly without the required approvals. However, standing committee members objected to the proposal and demanded a detailed report on the works and payments.The committee directed civic officials to submit details of the works for which bills were paid through allegedly bogus sub-proposals, including the names of contractors, the amounts paid, and whether the quality of the works had been inspected. The controversy erupted in July, after which municipal commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi ordered an inquiry into the alleged irregularities. The inquiry subsequently confirmed procedural lapses, leading to the transfer of the civic body’s chief accounts officer.The civic administration also ordered a separate verification to ascertain whether the works for which the bills were paid had actually been completed on the ground and whether they met the required quality standards.Standing committee chairman Abhishek Barne, who originally raised the issue in July, said, “Until a detailed report is submitted, the proposal will not be approved.” The civic administration has now been asked to submit the report before placing a fresh proposal before the committee.