Activists raise doubts on the quality of finished work, at 74 spots, if the job worth Rs 698 crore will be completed in Rs 506 crore
Activists say that the BMC took up multiple projects like widening of nullahs for flood mitigation, but the issue persists. File pic
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will spend Rs 506.09 crore on flood mitigation measures at more than 74 chronic waterlogging locations in the city and suburbs. However, civic activists have raised doubts about the quality of work, as the contractors have bid about 27 per cent (Rs 192 crore less) below BMC’s estimated cost. According to the tender documents, the BMC plans to take up drain improvement and augmentation work across the city. The estimated cost for the project was Rs 698 crore, but the contractors will execute the work at Rs 506 crore.
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No relief from flooding
Activists have alleged that though the BMC took up multiple projects like the widening of nullahs, construction of big pumping stations and mini-pumping stations to improve storm water drains for flood mitigation, Mumbai still witnesses waterlogging at various places every year.
“The BMC has invited tenders as per the 2018 scheduled rate, and in the past three years all raw material cost has increased. So how is it feasible and sustainable for contractors to bid for the work at 27 per cent less than the total cost estimation given by BMC? There are high chances that the quality of work will be compromised. Does BMC have enough manpower for daily site inspection?” asked civic activist Sanjay Gurav. If a contractor works for less than 12 per cent he has to deposit extra security money for every 1 per cent after that.
Another civic activist, Godfrey Pimenta, from NGO Watchdog Foundation said, “How can there be a difference of 25—30 per cent between the bid and actual cost estimation? So the tender process itself is questionable. That is exactly why work done by the BMC deteriorates and gets damaged early.”
Official speak
Storm Water Drain Department Chief Engineer L D Kamlapurkar said, “BMC will start these projects as early as possible. We are taking approval from Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal.” Refuting allegations about the quality of work Kamlapurkar added, “Quality of work will be monitored regularly. There will be no compromise in quality.”
A team of BMC engineers inspected the spots prone to flooding and identified the cause. Most of the places have drains with not enough capacity, some places don’t have sufficient drainage network. Now BMC is strengthening local area storm water drains. They will also construct a new drain network at some places.
The suburbs
In the western suburbs BMC will start 47 projects worth Rs 277.26 crore. In the eastern suburbs 25 projects will start at the cost of Rs 193.83 crore, while in the city the BMC will start two projects worth Rs 35 crore.
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