MUMBAI, May 14: The nightmare of clogged drains this monsoon awaits the people as cleaning and desilting of major outlets and storm-water drains in the city has been delayed by a month.

High quotations from contractors have delayed the operation and BMC officials are now trying hard to complete the job before the rains. The officials concerned are busy trying to complete the work in the remaining four weeks instead of the six weeks every year.

Compared to the two rounds of desilting carried out before the monsoon arrives in June, the BMC might just be able to complete one round this year.There are 45 storm-water and major drains in the city, and the eastern and western suburbs and they are cleaned by contractors. The process usually begins in the first week of April and the first round is over by the end of the month. The second round is completed in May.

But this year it has been delayed as tenders for the work were invited late, said a member of the standing committee. They were first floated in February but not many contractors sent in their quotations. So the corporation had to invite bids again in March and April. The total expenditure involved is around Rs 15 crore every year.

Later, the standing committee refused to pass some of the tenders because some of the contractors had demanded 50 to 60 per cent more than what the corporation had estimated. The others were passed immediately. Of the total 45, seven had quoted high rates. The committee then requested municipal commissioner Girish Gokhale to negotiate with them. But this failed as some of the contractors refused to lower their prices. Gokhale then made a statement in the House and later the committee passed the contracts in the interest of the public, said the official.

The official added that the corporation had to accept the proposals as the drains have to be cleaned and desilted before the monsoon. Also, as the BMC does not have staff to carry out the work, it has to depend on contractors who make arbitrary demands.

This is the second time that drain cleaning has been delayed. A similar situation had occurred two years ago when one contractor had quoted 750 per cent more than the cost required to clean a drain at Kurla. After negotiations, the corporation finally awarded the contract on a 150 per cent higher price. The 50 to 60 per cent hike this time is, therefore, not felt to be very worrying.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.