BMC slammed by CAG for extra payment to firms

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena, which is already under pressure over charges of corruption in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has now come under attack from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), which released its report in the Assembly on Friday. The CAG has attacked the BMC for making excess payment to contractors, deficit of toilet seats, which is a hurdle in making the city open defecation-free, and incomplete sewage lines.

After reviewing two projects by the BMC, the CAG has pointed out that the civic body did not check the rates and allotted the contracts. “The BMC may ensure analysis of the rates quoted by the contractors with reference to the supporting documents as per tender conditions so as to prevent excess payment. Engineers in charge were required to obtain detailed supplementary schedule of rates, before award of work and call for supporting documents for the contractor’s claims before payment,” the CAG has remarked in its report.

It further said the work was awarded to the high rate contract.  

Under the title, undue financial benefit to contractors, the CAG said that incorrect methodology for preparation of estimate and release of payments resulted in excess payment of Rs 29 crore to contractors in six ongoing works as of July 2016.

Contrary to the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in slum areas, the BMC constructed only 5,797 toilet seats against the targeted 20,195 seats in March 2016, defeating the objective of making the city open defecation free. “The slow progress in construction of toilet blocks and connecting them to existing sewer lines resulted in continued discharge of untreated sewage into open nullahs, creek and the sea. Out of a total 477 work orders of constructing toilet seats issued , 134 work orders were cancelled,” the report said.

The report further said that only 43 per cent of the sewage network was constructed and only 17 per cent work of the rehabilitation of old sewage lines was executed. “Sewer line works proposed under the master plan and feasibility works undertaken by sewage project were executed to the extent of 43 per cent (49.81km  out of 115.67 km). Similarly, only 17 per cent of the rehabilitation work of old lines was executed and no improvement took place in waste water treatment facility,” the report said.