The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has claimed to have carried out 18.57 per cent desilting works in the city by the end of April. The use of municipal machinery has also been allowed for the cleaning of minor nullahs, civic officials said.

With the contractors turning their back to the tenders invited for minor nullah desilting, the BMC has appointed non-government organisations (NGOs) to carry out these works. However, corporators have alleged that the BMC is not allowing them to use the municipal machinery, which has hampered the cleaning works of minor nullahs.

However, in a statement made before the civic standing committee civic chief Ajoy Mehta said, “No such instructions have been given to ward officers for the desilting of minor nullahs. Instead, the BMC has made sure that its own machinery such as Mahabali, JCB, recycling machines are available for these works. In addition to this, permissions have also been given to hire such machinery from outside on rental basis if required. We have also made financial provision for this.”

According to the civic data, till April 21, average 18.57 percent of desilting works have been carried out in the city. Last year only 2.35 percent desilting was done at this time of the year, said civic officials.

The BMC had given desilting contracts for the period of two years — 2015-16 and 2016-17. However, due to corruption exposed in the probe last year, the BMC revoked the contracts and invited tenders again. Accordingly, the cleaning of Mithi and Vakola rivers started from March 15 and that of major nullahs from April 18. The BMC allotted desilting works of minor nullahs to NGOs as tenders for these works failed to evoke response from contractors three times.

The civic body has also laid down strict guidelines for the desilting works this year. According to the new conditions, the silt will now be measured in tonnes instead of cubic metres and every weighbridge will have municipal chowky. The vehicle tracking system (VTS) will be used to track the silt carrying dumpers to the municipal server. The weighbridges will also be connected to municipal server.