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Nullah cleaning deadline missed

Despite making tall claims, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has missed the deadline for the first phase of desilting works and road repair works before the monsoon.

Despite making tall claims, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has missed the deadline for the first phase of desilting works and road repair works before the monsoon. Since silt removal works are pending at several places, the civic body has decided to extend the deadline till June 5, whereas the road repair works would continue till June 10.

The civic body had given desilting contractors 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, 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 thrice failed to evoke response from contractors.

The civic body had fixed a deadline of May 31 for the first phase of nullah-cleaning works. However, desilting works of major nullahs, especially in island city, is yet to be completed. The silt removed from the nullahs has also been lying on the roads and yet to be transported to the dumping places.

According to the civic officials, the tenders for desilting of major nullahs were cleared very late, thus causing the delay, especially in G-South and G-North wards.

“It takes a couple of days for the silt removed from nullahs to dry. After that it will be transported to designated places for dumping. Hence we have given additional days to contractors for the transportation of silt. In addition to this, despite our repeated appeals, people continue to dump garbage in nullahs, even after they are cleaned. The floating material needs to be removed regularly,” said Laxman Vhatkar, director (engineering and projects).

In case of road repairs, the levelling works would continue till June 10. The repair works of 107 city roads were expected to be completed before monsoon. While these works have been completed, contractors have been asked to carry out levelling works till June 10.

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