Pune: The city unit of the Congress has approached Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat, seeking his intervention over alleged corruption in a proposed garbage processing plant.The Congress has accused the BJP-led Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) of tweaking tender conditions to favour a specific contractor, potentially causing a massive loss to the state exchequer.“The BJP rules the PMC, and corruption is being promoted through this garbage plant project,” said Arvind Shinde, Congress corporator and former city unit chief. “As the RSS is the mother organisation of the BJP, it should come forward and clarify its stand on these acts.”At the heart of the controversy is the BJP’s approval of a consolidated garbage processing facility designed to handle both wet and dry waste. Congress leaders argued that the project and its tender terms were specifically designed to benefit a particular firm.Earlier this month, the Congress demanded that the PMC scrap the current tender and issue separate bids for wet and dry waste. They claim that while the current “mixed-waste” model is set to cost Rs967 crore, opting for separate facilities would cost approximately Rs400 crore—a move that could save the civic body of Rs567 crore.To support their claim, the Congress cited a prior written opinion from the PMC’s own vigilance department. The department had reportedly recommended separate tenders, noting that wet and dry waste require entirely different processing methods for efficiency.Despite the mounting criticism, PMC officials indicated that the project is moving forward. “The standing committee of the PMC has already approved the project and the financial aid has been cleared. Work is expected to begin soon,” said a senior PMC official.
