An alert RTI activist has helped Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) save Rs 31 crore that it was planning to spend on epoxy painting of main water supply pipe lines of Mumbai.
In March 2018, the BMC had invited tender for epoxy painting of its main water supply pipe lines. The tender had been issued by BMC's hydraulic engineering department. A private firm named API Civil Construction Private Ltd got the work order at a rate of Rs 185 per square metres.
According to RTI activist Anil Galgali, the total cost of the work was around Rs 2.5 crore and API had shown willingness to do it for Rs 1.98 crore. However, for some reasons the work did not start on the painting project. "Then, in September 2019, another tender was invited for same work with some additional repair and maintenance work. API again applied and bagged this contract of Rs 44.81 crore," Galgali informed THE WEEK.
He pointed out that the rate quoted for the work in March 2018 was Rs 185 per square metres whereas the rate quoted for the work in September 2019 was Rs 648 per square metres. "An increase of Rs 463 per square metre in a span of just one and half year. This surprised me," said Galgali.
He alerted BMC Commissioner Praveen Pardeshi and told him that BMC will lose Rs 31 crore if this tender is approved. On September 23 last year Galgali sent an official letter to BMC commissioner, highlighting his findings and wondered how could the rate go up by Rs 463 per square metre in just one and half year. " I can understand an increase of 15-20 per cent but this was huge."
Pardeshi then took matters in his own hands and examined the case carefully. In December, he called Galgali and informed that the work was being cancelled. Galgali was happy that his efforts had been worthwhile. He, however, did not receive any communication from the BMC, so he began following up with BMC officials once again. He came to know that a Member of Parliament and a legislator from Mumbai were taking undue interest in making sure that the work order does not get cancelled.
"I kept following up with Commissioner Pardeshi and other officials. Finally, last week I got a letter from BMC that the tender has been cancelled due to technical reasons and the work order has not been issued to any company." informed Galgali.
