Fire Fighting – not in Zilla Parishad Schools but in Mantralaya. “Education Audit”, not the “Fire Audit” is call of the hour.

Mr. Devendra Fadnavis

Hon’ble Chief Minister

Government of Maharahstra

Mumbai

Fire Fighting – not in Zilla Parishad Schools but in Mantralaya. “Education Audit”, not the “Fire Audit” is call of the hour.

On 11 February, the education department had issued a government resolution authorising the office of the Education Director (Primary) to enter into a rate contract for supply of 62,105 fire extinguishers for Zilla Parishad schools across the state. Each fire extinguisher was to be procured at a price of Rs 8,321 and each school was to be provided three pieces. This contract is worth about Rs.191 crore.

The contract, cleared by Tawde, has, however, been put on hold after the Finance Department objected to it.

The objections are as follows:

1.      How can the Education Department grant administrative approval for Rs.191 crore when the Department had just Rs. 19 crore in budgeted funds for ‘procurement of miscellaneous items’ in Zilla Parishad Schools?

2.      No prior approval was sought by the Finance Department.

3.      Supreme Court judgment of 2009 was quoted out of context.

4.      The contract has been allotted without ‘fire audit’ of the schools.

5.      The contractor who was awarded the contract was not on Government’s rate contract list.

Education Minister Vinod Tawade and his Firemen, the Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and the Cooperation Minister Chandrakant Patil have attempted to douse the fire as follows:

1.      Education Minister Vinod Tawade has put on hold the said contract and has directed Mr. Purushottam Bhapkar, Education Commissioner to probe the allegations against the Education Minister.

2.      On budgetary application and the funds available and prior approval, Education Minister has clarified as per PTI that "Our Education department budget for the purpose is Rs 18 crore but there are allegations of a Rs 191 crore scam. I (the department) had Rs 18 crore. I could have easily purchased equipment worth that amount. If I were to comply with the SC order, I would have needed Rs 191 crore. I asked Finance Department what should I do? There was already a provision of Rs 18 crore made by earlier Congress government for purchase of fire-fighting equipment in schools. Had we wanted, we could have ordered equipment based on that provision. However, we approached the finance department, asking about providing the equipment to all the schools. That amount came to Rs 191 crore. That is what is being referred as the 'Rs 191 crore scam' despite the fact that not a single rupee has been given to anyone."

3.      On SC judgment of 2009, Vinod Tawade said “Just because the previous regime had overlooked this aspect (i.e. order has come 5 years ago), does not mean I should have delayed matter too. I issued directives to save the department and myself from possible contempt of court directives.”

4.      Tawade clarified that State would now carry out the fire audit in Zilla Parishad Schools.

5.      Vinod Tawde has clarified that “the contractor was an authorized dealer of a rate contractor ‘In Time Fire Appliances Private Limited’, which existed on the rate contract list. Norms permit such an arrangement.

When one look at the objections raised and the explanations given, it becomes crystal-clear that Vinod Tawde and his Firefighters end up confirming the charges, viz., no prior approval for Rs.191 crore was taken; SC judgment was quoted out of context, probably to hoodwink the common man by referring to ‘contempt of court’; no fire audits were conducted in Zilla Parishad Schools; And in the absence of prior sanction by the Finance Ministry, he could not have issued administrative orders for Rs.191 crore, a financial impropriety on the face of it. And icing on the cake is Education Commissioner is going to probe Education Minister!

However, what is more pathetic is the poor fire fighting skill of his Cabinet colleagues — Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar and Cooperation Minister Chandrakant Patil. Mungantiwar, whose department had objected to the contract, defended Tawde saying, “This is nothing but a political conspiracy to drag Tawde into the matter. In fact, it was Tawde who brought this matter to light and stalled payment to the contractor.” Obviously, the Finance Minister is not in synch with the sequence of events. Mungantiwar is blissfully unaware (or shall I say conveniently feigning ignorance?) that Tawde stalled payment only after the Finance Department raised objections. And Chandrakant patil defended by saying purchase was ordered as per Supreme Court ruling. He did not quote the relevant paras of the said judgment. It is doubtful even whether he has read that judgment. But that should not prevent him from issuing a statement.

There is another soap opera involving Pankaja Munde Palwe. The more she explains, the more she exposes. And now she wants to defend herself with ‘show of strength’ of her supporters. More about that in another write up.

Instead of ‘fire audit’ in Zilla Parishad Schools, CM should do education audit of certain Ministers. No need to wait for SC judgment for such audit. 

Regards