Mumbai: The standing committee of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday passed controversial proposals for garbage collection despite opposition from the BJP.
The proposals came under scrutiny as the prices bid by contractors were more than double the civic body’s estimates. The BJP demanded that bids be re-invited, but the Shiv Sena went ahead, with support from the Congress.
The BMC has ordered an inquiry against the official who prepared the estimates.
The solid waste management department has been at the centre of a controversy for the last one year after allegations of debris mixing in garbage and tainted contractors being allotted work surfaced.
In order to reduce corruption, the civic body decided to allot every job — right from door-to-door collection of garbage to transporting it to dumping grounds — to a single contractor. The contractor will also ensure garbage bins are removed, and a toll-free number is started for citizens for complaints.
This pilot project will be started in four wards: Dahisar, Borivali, Kandivali and Mulund. The project was divided into three proposals wherein the civic body had its own estimates. But when the contracts were opened, it was learnt that in two of the three proposals, the lowest bidder had bid 112% and 109% higher than the civic body’s estimates.
Meanwhile, the estimates were revised. But, the same bidders were shortlisted by the department, and the proposals were put up before the standing committee on Thursday.
BJP leader Prabhakar Shinde moved an amendment to reject the proposals citing unethical practice. “The proposals need to be rejected and fresh bids be re-invited. How can the estimates go so drastically wrong? The BMC should enlist the help of experts from IIT to prepare the next tender document,” Mr. Shinde said. He claimed that one of the shortlisted companies was tainted in the debris-mixing scam. Another BJP corporator Makarand Narvekar asked how the civic body can justify the rates which are still 1-6% more than the revised estimates.
Additional municipal commissioner Vijay Singhal clarified that the original estimates did not take into account several things. “The contractor will have to pay labourers as per market rate and provide on-job facilities. The official did not factor in current diesel cost and underestimated number of wheel bins in the estimates. We have constituted an inquiry against the official.”
Mr. Shinde’s amendment was rejected and the proposals were passed. Officials said this pilot project will in fact save cost for the civic body, compared to prevalent methods. Besides, the contractor will be responsible for lapses and will face heavy penalties.
The contract period for these proposals is seven years and together they cost around ₹600 crore.
