नालेसफाई घोटाळ्याचं स्टिंग ऑपरेशन, बिल्डरच्या साइटवरचा माल दाखवला नाल्यातील गाळ! Mumbai Scam

Summary

A sting operation exposes the massive corruption in Mumbai's drainage cleaning system. Despite claims of large-scale dredging, the reality is a network of fraud, where contractors are dumping debris as 'drain waste' to collect funds. With involvement from various municipal engineers and supervisors, the operation reveals how officers are bribed and misusing their positions for personal gain. The investigation uncovers the extent of the malpractice across multiple wards, leading to an inquiry ordered by the municipal commissioner. This exposes a much larger issue of corruption and mismanagement within municipal operations.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Mumbai drainage cleaning scam has been exposed through a sting operation by Lokmat's reporter Manisha Mathre.
• 😀 The scam involves private developers dumping construction debris in the drains and passing it off as cleaned sludge to the municipal corporation.
• 😀 Despite large-scale claims of sludge removal, the drains continue to fill up, raising suspicions of corruption in the process.
• 😀 The scam was uncovered with the help of truck driver Ganesh Ghagge, who assisted in documenting the fraudulent activities.
• 😀 The operation showed that contractors and municipal officials are involved in a system where false reports of sludge cleaning are submitted.
• 😀 A detailed mobile app was created to track and document the cleaning process, but no municipal officials were present during the operations.
• 😀 The app requires uploading photos and videos of the process, but the whole system was manipulated to bypass the official process.
• 😀 Junior engineers in the municipal corporation had their user IDs and passwords managed by the supervisors, who facilitated the scam.
• 😀 The officials involved are reported to make significant amounts of money (₹1 to 1.5 lakh) through fraudulent lock sheets for each project.
• 😀 The sting operation revealed a widespread problem across Mumbai, not limited to just one ward, suggesting systemic corruption in municipal drainage cleaning.
• 😀 After the operation, Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani took serious action, ordering an inquiry into the corruption within 15 days.

Q & A

What is the primary subject of the sting operation described in the transcript?

The sting operation exposes corruption in the cleaning process of Mumbai's drainage system, where private developers dump construction debris into drains instead of properly cleaning them.

How does the corruption in the drainage cleaning process work, according to the transcript?

The corruption involves private contractors dumping construction debris (rubble) into the drains, and officials falsify records by approving these actions through manipulated lock sheets, which are used to bill the cleaning process inaccurately.

What role did Manisha Mhatre play in exposing the corruption?

Manisha Mhatre, a representative of Lokmat, conducted the sting operation with the help of truck driver Ganesh Ghadge, capturing footage and evidence of the illegal activities in the drainage cleaning process.

What evidence was gathered during the sting operation?

The evidence included photos and videos of trucks transporting construction debris to different locations, including private properties, and lock sheets that were falsified to reflect inaccurate drainage cleaning activities.

How did the system of lock sheets contribute to the corruption?

The lock sheets, which are essential for approving the drainage cleaning work, were falsified. Junior engineers signed pre-filled lock sheets, allowing contractors to claim payments for work that was never actually done.

What role do the junior engineers and supervisors play in the corruption?

Junior engineers and supervisors were involved in the manipulation of lock sheets and accepting bribes. The supervisor would operate multiple mobile phones to manage lock sheet data and ensure that the falsified information was processed without detection.

What is the significance of the lock sheet in the context of the drainage cleaning process?

The lock sheet serves as an official document confirming that drainage cleaning has been done. It is used to process payments for contractors, but its falsification results in the draining of public funds without actual work being completed.

What impact did this corruption have on Mumbai’s drainage cleaning efforts?

Despite reports of large-scale drainage cleaning efforts, the corruption meant that the cleaning was not effectively carried out. Large amounts of debris were claimed to be removed, but in reality, the waste was often dumped elsewhere, contributing to the continuous clogging of drains.

How did the corruption extend beyond just one ward in Mumbai?

The corruption was not limited to just the S-Ward. Similar practices were observed across multiple wards in Mumbai, with contractors from various areas involved in similar illegal activities related to drainage cleaning.

What action was taken by the Municipal Commissioner of Mumbai after the sting operation?

After the sting operation, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani took serious notice of the issue, appointing senior engineers to conduct an investigation. A transparent and objective report was expected within 15 days to address the corruption.