Civic body checkmates blacklisted contractors

After receiving flak following reports of scams in different civic departments, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is setting its house in order. The BMC has started cross-checking all tender applications after it found that blacklisted contractors were bidding on different company names.

One such contract for desilting, which was already allotted, was recently rejected after the department cross-checked the company's details with the legal department.

The company had already bagged contracts worth Rs. 3.86 crore for desilting a huge stretch of the Mithi River in H-East ward, from Dharavi bridge to Prem Nagar, for the year 2017-18.

At least 32 contractors were named in the de-silting scam after they were found guilty in 23 different works. The civic administration has blacklisted these contractors, who cannot participate in any kind of bidding process for BMC works for the next five years.

However, one such contractor tried to land the desilting contract by changing the name of the company. However, the issue came to the notice of a civic official from Storm Water Drains department, after the contract was allotted.

The official alerted the seniors and revoked the contract, which was then given to the bidder quoting the second lowest bid.

Laxman Vhatkar, Director Special Engineering said they were keeping an eye on the blacklisted contractors. "Officials from the department noticed anomalies in the details given by the contractor. It was confirmed that the company which participated in the bidding process is owned by the same proprietor who was blacklisted for the desilting scam," he said.