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This is an archive article published on June 4, 2015
As monsoon approaches, ill-prepared BMC makes last-minute proposals
The civic body also sought approvals for repairing a 52-year-old ground-plus-two-storey municipal school in Andheri West.
Chawl residents at Lalbaug fix a rooftop in preparation of the monsoons. (Source: Express photo by Ganesh Shirsekar)
From pre-monsoon repairs at school buildings to stocking civic hospitals with crucial drugs in case of outbreak of water and vector-borne diseases, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday initiated a slew of last-minute moves to bolster its preparedness for the monsoon, expected to hit the city within a fortnight.
The administration also obtained approvals from the standing committee to provide raincoats, umbrellas and notebooks to students of civic schools at a cost of around Rs 33 crore. The schools reopen in 10 days. The suppliers are supposed to provide the items in the next 45 days. These are among the 27 items such as textbooks, water bottles, compass boxes to be supplied before the beginning of the academic year. However, proposals for the remaining 24 items are yet to be placed before the committee.
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Vinod Shelar, BJP corporator, said, “It’s not that the BMC does not know that monsoons are nearing. Why cannot they work in advance? By bringing these proposals at the last minute, BMC has made it obligatory for the committee to just pass these proposals as soon as possible.”
Some corporators also alleged that the proposals were sent only a day before the meeting, though rule mandates that these be circulated three days in advance.
On Wednesday, the civic body also sought approvals for repairing a 52-year-old ground-plus-two-storey municipal school in Andheri West.
“Though the process was initiated by the tender committee in January this year, the proposal reached the standing committee only in June. This signifies vested interests. Now that the schools will re-open on June 14, how will BMC conduct the repairs?” BJP corporator and group leader Manoj Kotak said.
Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, additional municipal commissioner, who was present at the committee meet on Wednesday, said, “The process got delayed as there were a lot of queries regarding the tender. Since it is a crucial proposal for monsoon-preparedness, we request the committee to pass it.”
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BMC also sought sanction to supply monsoon-related drugs to hospitals, only on Tuesday, despite years of grappling with dengue and malaria during the monsoon. The proposal includes oxygen masks for children and adults among 54 crucial items to be procured at a cost of Rs 1.82 crore.
Corporators alleged that BMC sent the proposal without getting a performance certificate for these items from the shortlisted suppliers. “Acquiring performance certificates takes about 3-4 weeks and it will delay the supply of these crucial medicines. However, there has been a background check on the suppliers,” a senior civic official said.
tanushree.venkatraman@expressindia.com
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