While the desilting works of city nullahs are still in limbo, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will carry out the desilting of Mithi river at the cost of Rs 22 crore.
While the desilting works of city nullahs are still in limbo, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation will carry out the desilting of Mithi river at the cost of Rs 22 crore.
According to civic officials, while the civic body will pay Rs 9.29 crore to remove silt from Vakola and Mithi river (from Dharavi bridge to Prem Nagar outfall), the other parts of Mithi river will be desilted at the cost of Rs 12.36 crore. The BMC has allotted these works to M/s SNB Infrastructure and M/s NA constructions respectively.
The BMC had given desilting contractors for the period of two years — 2015-16 and 2016-17. But, due to corruption exposed in the desilting scam, the civic body revoked the contracts and invited tenders again. However, contractors have bid as high as 300 per cent than the base price, which has forced officials to scrap the entire process again.
While the civic body has decided to re-tender the nullah desilting works, it has decided to go ahead with Mithi desilting works. “The bids received for Mithi river desitling works are on par with our estimated cost. Hence the proposal for Mithi desilting works will be tabled before the civic standing committee for approval,” said a senior civic official. The BMC has made provision of Rs 282 crore for desilting works for two years. Of them, Rs108 crore were for major nullahs, Rs 139 crore for minor nullahs and Rs 30 crore for Mithi river.
In case of nullah desilting works, the BMC has now relaxed tender conditions for 41 desilting works so that more and more bidders can participate in the tendering. The estimated cost of 41 desilting works is Rs 125 crore, which include Rs 29 crore for island city, Rs 55.50 crore for eastern suburbs and Rs 40.50 crore for western suburbs.
