Contractor to replace 13,500 saris meant for civic staff

After months of wrangling, the contractor accused of supplyinginferior quality saris to the civic body's conservancy workers has agreed to take them back, and replace them with superior quality ones.

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had received 31,000 saris from the contractor, out of which 18,500 were distributed to the conservancy workers.

Returned: The contractor's employee seen taking back the inferior quality saris, that were meant for the PMC's conservancy staff

13,500 saris, however, were still lying in the PMC's stores because distribution was stopped after conservancy workers started complaining about the quality.

"When we raised our concerns, the contractor was not ready to take back the saris. But, he finally agreed to take back the saris. We have ordered him to replace all 13,500 saris. We will also examine the new saris before taking delivery," said Shriniwas Kandul, head of the store department, PMC.

MiD DAY had highlighted the concerns of the conservancy workers who complained that the saris given to them are of inferior quality (‘Sorry state of saris,' May 29). Following which, the civic body had sent a show cause notice to the contractor.

Whole nine yards
Every two years, the civic body distributes uniforms to the conservancy staff. For the year 2012-13, around 35,000 saris were ordered from the private contractor. Tenders were floated, and after receiving the lowest bid from Poonam Dresses and Tailoring Firm, the work order was sanctioned by Standing Committee Feb 2, 2012.

The contractor delivered the saris to the PMC between the months of March and May. After the saris were distributed among the staff, it came to the fore that inferior fabric was used in the manufacture of the saris. After scrutiny, it was also found that actual cost of saris was much lower than the quoted price.

"Order for a new batch of saris will not be given to that contractor. Only the saris purchased from him earlier will be replaced. For the new lot, a fresh bidding process will undertaken," added Kandul. u00a0 u00a0