More trouble for sewerage project as civic body probes muck on 2 shortlisted firms

Of the shortlisted companies,SPML Ltd and UEM Ltd will now be investigated for possible non-disclosure of information during filing applications for tender process.

“We will investigate and scrutinise the proposal of both companies as we have received a complaint that they have been blacklisted by other municipal corporations. We are also planning to write to the Delhi Jal Board and UP Jal Nigam,who have apparently blacklisted them from participating in any tender process,” said Rajiv Jalota,Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects).

The BMC had initiated the tender process for the part of the MSDP phase II project under which it started the process of setting up a sewage treatment plant in Colaba which is expected to cost around Rs 70 crore.

While SPML has entered into a joint venture with a Spain-based company and applied for the tender process,UEM is in a joint venture with Geomiller,a Delhi based company.

According to senior civic officials,the project consultant Mott MacDonald had scrutinised and evaluated the profile of shortlisted companies.

While the BMC scrutinising committee will also check the credentials of these companies,it is the project consultant’s responsibility to check for fraudulent practices of a company.

A senior BMC official said the companies have been questioned on their alleged blacklisting by the Delhi Jal Board and UP Jal Nigam and they have denied any such involvement.