BMC issues contract for Nullah cleaning ahead of the monsoon

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started awarding contracts for nullah cleaning and this is said to be worth INR 17 crores. Reports state that the contracts will be awarded to contractors who submit tenders at a reduced rate of 3.33 per cent to 12.33 per cent, and  around three to four contracts will be awarded to a single contractor.

Meanwhile, the first phase of nullah cleaning is expected to begin soon, however, the proposals are still in the round of approval.

Every year, BMC cleans small and big nullahs in the city before the monsoon season to ensure the sludge is removed and disposed of. This activity is conducted to prevent water retention in the low lying areas, which is a menace faced by the city every year during the torrential rains. The nullah cleaning activity, each year, is done in three stages. 

In the first phase, 80 per cent of the cleaning is done between March 1 and May 31, whereas in the second phase, 10 per cent is planned between June 1 and September 30. The third phase includes 10 per cent of cleaning which is planned between October 1 and February 28. This year, the cleaning work in the eastern suburbs could not start on March 1 and as per sources, the cleaning work is starting late due to delay in the tender process. 

The administration has released the tender and announced the process for the cleaning of small nallas, rain water drains and Petika nallas in Mulund, Chembur East-West and Ghatkopar areas; and had decided to award a contract worth INR 1.10 crore to M/S Prashant Hebrekar Company. Post this, the work was expected to start on March 1, 2021, however, there are no signs of the same to have begun yet.

Meanwhile, the administration has submitted proposals to the standing committee, which will come up for discussion at its meeting, which is expected to be held on Wednesday, March 17, 2021. Even if the Standing Committee approves the same immediately, officials state that this will take 10 to 15 days to complete the rest of the necessary process and issue a work order to the contractor.

It is post this, the work will actually start, and hence the question regarding the first phase of 80 per cent sludge removal work, has already raised concerns.