Pune Zilla Parishad’s approximately Rs 180 crore Model School tender programme has come under scrutiny after group leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction alleged possible financial losses of Rs 40 crore to Rs 50 crore and demanded an inquiry into the tender process, contractor eligibility, work quality and use of funds.
The allegations were raised at a press conference by BJP group leader Shivajirao Buchade-Patil and Shiv Sena group leader Vijay Shinde. Shiv Sena group leader Suvarna Darekar was also present. The leaders questioned why none of the tenders reportedly received bids 20% to 25% below the estimated rates, and said this may have resulted in higher expenditure for the district council.
The first phase of the Model School programme covers 303 schools in Pune district. Buchade-Patil alleged that complaints regarding the selection criteria for these schools were ignored. He also questioned the administrative arrangement under which estimates were prepared by engineers and staff from the construction wing of the education department’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, while the tender process was conducted through the north and south construction divisions.
The group leaders sought clarification on why the agencies preparing the estimates and conducting the tender process were organised in this manner. They also objected to the clubbing of tenders, alleging that the method may have benefited specific contractors. They demanded verification of the contractors’ financial capacity, technical qualifications and supporting documents.
Another allegation concerned the execution of works through subcontractors. The leaders asked the administration to establish who actually carried out the projects, how quality inspections were conducted and whether contractors complied with the terms of their agreements. They also raised questions about the appointment of 13 architects or project consultants after estimates had been prepared and some tender procedures had been completed. According to the report, the consultants were paid a fee of 1%.
Complaints about poor-quality work had allegedly been raised in meetings of the standing committee, general body and construction committee, but the group leaders claimed that these complaints had not been investigated. They sought details of any physical inspections and action taken where defects were found.
The work at a school in Sonori village in Purandar taluka was cited as a specific case. Buchade-Patil said the school had been completed in 2022 and 2023 using corporate social responsibility funds from Bharat Forge and Indian Oil. Despite this, the school was allegedly included in the Model School programme with a provision of Rs 102.60 lakh. He further alleged that bills worth Rs 27 lakh were paid for repairs and that a bill of Rs 63.29 lakh was released despite the absence of required photographs and videos.
Questions were also raised over a second provision for waterproofing work that had allegedly already been carried out. The leaders asked whether old doors, windows, grills and granite flooring removed during renovation had been auctioned, and whether records had been maintained regarding their disposal.
Pune Zilla Parishad president Veerdhaval Jagdale said the clubbed tenders and estimates relating to the Model School programme had been processed before the current office-bearers assumed their positions. He said complaints had previously been discussed in the Zilla Parishad and that one complaint had not found substance. Jagdale added that if the group leaders submit their complaints through the proper process, the administration will verify them and conduct an inquiry if the prescribed criteria were not followed.
