The Standing Committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has ordered an inquiry against some scrap dealers who have been taking part in the tender processes of various civic departments for years, and have the same address and contact details, but show different names.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Standing Committee member Bhalchandra Shirsat has also alleged that the BMC is losing crores of rupees every year due to some of these dealers, who also have several companies in the name of one scrap dealer. “The commissioner should pay close attention and check the details of the previous scrap auction. The racket of scrap dealers in various departments has literally looted the corporation,” said Shirsat. He added, “Many times the auctioneer on behalf of the corporation, and the beneficiary participating in the auction, have the same address and the owner. So there is a clear monopoly in the process. At present, the corporation is going to purchase a large number of electric vehicles. The old vehicles will be scrapped, so once again, the BMC will suffer a loss of crores of rupees due to this racket.”