The controversy surrounding the recently-concluded Bali Yatra in Cuttack does not seem to die down with the president of the Bali Yatra Works Committee alleging another irregularity in conducting the grand fair.
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) corporator and Works Committee president, Pradipta Khuntia alleged that a tender was given to a supplier despite his objections.
As per Khuntia, a supplier named Concept Communication did not work properly during the last Bali Yatra held in 2022. So he requested the CMC to not provide work to this supplier during the Contract Standing Committee meeting before Bali Yatra this year. Khuntia has reportedly written to the CMC Commissioner, CMC Mayor, Urban Development Secretary, RDC and the district Collector requesting the same.
The said supplier got the tender despite his objections, which has raised eyebrows of many.
“The tenders were not worked out appropriately. This is a matter of gross negligence by the CMC. They did not guide the service provider which won the tender. Corruption has happened only because of the negligence of the CMC authorities,” alleged Pradipta Khuntia, Corporator and Works Committee President.
Asked about the allegations, CMC Commissioner Nikhil Pavan Kalyan said, “Not even a single item was included in Bali Yatra without discussion with all the stakeholders. I am very confident that we are on the right track. There will be comments, but let us wait for the report first. We are ready to stop payment to anybody found creating problems. And we will not work with the agencies in the future whichever is found doing gross negligence.”
Cuttack Mayor compared corporators who have brought corruption allegations against the CMC with ‘Kala Pahad’ and said, “It hurts me a lot to see people jumping into conclusions and bringing allegations without any documentary evidence. Not a single penny has been paid to any supplier. These kinds of leaders should not have been born here. They are making statements like Kala Pahada.”
It is pertinent to mention here that a row has erupted over the conduct of Bali Yatra this year after allegations of corruption were brought up by Corporators.
As per reports, the two temporary gates (welcome arch) made with bamboo and other materials installed at Bell View Square and Telengapentha were billed at Rs 32 lakh. Similarly, the laser show at Bali Yatra, which was of so poor quality that it could only run for the first two days, was billed at Rs 96 lakh.