Trident light controversy hits Bengal House

State urban development minister Firhad Hakim said he did not know whether any tender process was gone through in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation area, but in other areas under the Urban Development Department the process was duly followed.

Very recently the KMC top brass removed Goutam Pattanayak as the director-general (electrical) who was under the scanner for an alleged role in the purchase of the trident lights and fixing their rates.

The civic authorities also decided to conduct a departmental probe into alleged irregularities in the purchase of these lights.

Giving details of the scheme, the minister told the Assembly that 54 civic bodies, including the KMC, installed it till August 31 this year, costing about Rs 39.39 crore.

Replying to a question by Leader of the Opposition Surjya Kanta Milshra in the House, Hakim said that altogether Rs 24.68 crore was spent under this project in the KMC area alone, while Rs 14.71 crore was spent in areas under the Urban Development department including Kolkata Metropolitan Development Area (KMDA).

To a question, the minister said that the project was implemented in areas under the Urban Development department through a proper tender process.

Bidhannagar Municipality spent Rs 96 lakh and Nabadiganta covering Salt Lake Sector-V spent Rs 12 lakh for installing trident lights, he said.

Unhappy with the replies by the minister, Opposition members demanded more details.