Bihar government spends ₹15,000 on VIP dustbins

Health Minister Mangal Pandey's department buys dustbins for ₹15,000 each, usually priced at ₹1,500.

Initially, reports of large-scale scams in the purchase of dustbins and LED screens in various municipal councils of Bihar were emerging, and now news of a scam in the purchase of dustbins in the Bihar government's health ministry has come to light. The latest case involves a scam in the purchase of dustbins in the health ministry of Bihar. A dustbin costing ₹1,200 to ₹1,500 is being purchased for ₹15,000 in the ministry of Health Minister Mangal Pandey.

In Bihar, for the past three to four months, the state government has been struggling to pay salaries and pensions to its employees and teachers, while on the other hand, ministers and officials are busy looting the hard-earned money of the people. Senior journalist Santosh Singh and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Rohini Acharya have made these allegations through an X post.

Senior journalist Santosh Singh said in an X post,

I cannot believe that corruption of this level is happening in Bihar. Yesterday, I learned that the health department purchased a dustbin for ₹15,000! Before reporting, ask yourself what the actual price of a dustbin and a black plastic bag is! A dustbin costs ₹1,240 and a bundle of plastic bags costs ₹110. I was shocked. The department purchased plastic bags at ₹95 per piece and a drum for ₹15,460! Purchases worth ₹360 crore were made, and payment was made from the medicine purchase fund! Is this sensible? Where is ₹1,500 and where is ₹15,000? Tell me, at what level is the hard-earned money of the hardworking people of Bihar being looted?

Leader of Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav's sister Rohini Acharya, has also accused CM Samrat Chaudhary and Health Minister Mangal Pandey of the dustbin scam.

She wrote in an X post,

Another scam of the Samrat government, even the dustbin has become invaluable. In Bihar, even the dustbin has become 'VVIP'. The dustbin, which is said to cost ₹1,500, has been purchased for ₹15,000. That is, the dustbin is small, but the bill has been made ten times bigger.

Rohini Acharya further questioned,

The people of Bihar are asking Samrat Chaudhary and Minister Mangal Pandey what is the secret of this 'expensive dustbin'? She also asked whether this is a dustbin for keeping garbage or a new trick to empty the government treasury?

Rohini also shared a photo in her post. It shows 5 types of dustbins with 'Dustbin Scam in Bihar' written on it.

It is noteworthy that in the past few months,

Bihar's Siwan, Khagaria, Saharsa, and Supaul municipal councils were also reported to have large-scale scams in the purchase of dustbins and LEDs. According to media reports, in the Siwan municipal council, a scam of ₹3 crore 87 lakh in the purchase of LEDs and high mast lights had surfaced, and before it could be investigated, another scam of approximately ₹6 crore 90 lakh in the purchase of dustbins came to light.

The investigation has been handed over to the Executive Engineer of the Road Construction Department by District Magistrate Mahendra Kumar. Along with this, some irregularities have also been found in the beautification of Rajendra Udyan, and its investigation has also begun. The Executive Engineer of the Road Construction Department has written to the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council to provide the related files. However, former councillor of the Municipal Council, Intekhab Ahmed, has also written to the Secretary of the Vigilance Department for an investigation into this scam. According to the letter, a tender was published in newspapers on 13th February last year for the purchase of 240-litre two-wheeler Sintex dustbins. Contrary to the rules, the tender was submitted in seven days instead of ten. On the same day, during a regular meeting, it was hastily included with another proposal, whereas it should have had a separate agenda.

Before the purchase, neither the number was decided nor was a list made of where they would be installed. Administrative approval was also not obtained. On 22nd February last year, the tender was opened in front of the contractor. Surprisingly, no technical officer was present when the tender was opened. The tender was opened in front of the empowered committee, and dustbins worth ₹9 crore 35 lakh were purchased intermittently. Whereas this tender should have been opened before the District Purchase Committee.

In Khagaria district's Mansi Nagar Panchayat, a scam of ₹25 to ₹30 lakh has occurred in the name of purchasing steel dustbins. This allegation has been made by Ward 7 councillor and student leader Amritraj. He said that the funds of the Urban Development Department have been misused. There was no special need for steel dustbins in the Nagar Panchayat. Yet, this purchase was made with the collusion of officials, contractors, and public representatives. Amritraj said that votes are bought during elections. The public should now open their eyes and see what the result of their votes is. He informed that a complaint about this scam has been made to the District Magistrate and the Deputy Development Commissioner. An application has also been submitted. But no investigation has started yet.