Who will maintain Mumbai's sewer lines?

It’s been a week since the rains reached the city and the BMC is still haggling with contractors for maintenance of sewer lines in the city.

Work such as repairing broken and collapsed sewer lines or manholes is conducted by appointing contractors biannually after inviting tenders. However, contractors for the period of 2013-15 are yet to be appointed.

This, citizens fear, could lead to health concerns during monsoon. As observed in the past, contractors bidding for the work have underestimated costs, leading to doubts about quality of work.

“There are no contractors appointed for temporary period in the rains. If the sewer lines are not maintained properly, the waste will spill on roads creating a nuisance to public life. This can lead to health issues,” a source said.

Additional municipal commissioner Rajiv Jalota admitted to the delay in appointing contractors. “We had to get the rates analysed and then consider agencies for the job.
This ate into our time,” Jalota said.

Meanwhile, public representatives have demanded speedy revision of scheduled rates. The corporation is still using scheduled rates from 2009 as the base. “Contractors have quoted 40-45 per cent below the estimated rates for trench filling work. The civic body needs to revise them to bring in quality,” said Rais Shaikh, Samajwadi Party (SP) group leader and a member of the standing committee.

An informal proposal to appoint contractors in seven administrative zones will be tabled before the standing committee on Monday. The work is expected to cost Rs33.54crore.