Rains on time, BCC lags behind

Rains on time, BCC lags behind
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Bangalore City Corporation’s (BCC) project of remodelling storm water drains in the Challaghatta valley that was supposed to begin before the last monsoon is yet to start. The BCC council resolution awaiting Government approval has not been signed by the Mayor.

The Rs. 100.38-crore works were sanctioned in 2004 during P.R. Ramesh’s tenure as Mayor but he has not signed the subsequent council resolution. The current Mayor does not want to sign it either.

Mayor R. Narayanaswamy questioned: ‘‘Why did Ramesh not sign it? How can I endorse his decision?’’ Meanwhile, the file on the works languishes in the BCC council section, say sources.

The standing committee on works had approved the lowest bidders for the works in three packages on August 28, 2003 and the proposal was presented to the BCC council more than a year later on October 25, 2004. The previous mayor Ramesh told this website’s newspaper that this delay was beyond his control.

He explained: ‘‘The council approved the works in February 2004 but the code of conduct for general elections came into force between March and June. Later, the contractors applied for escalation in costs due to delay, which was examined by the BCC.

In October, the final proposal was approved by the BCC council. We even gave away letters of intent to all the contractors at a public function in November. With all this, why has not the BCC started the works?’’

With such a pile of confusion on the files, the work is unlikely to begin on time. Contractors may again claim escalation fees due to further delay.

Ramesh believes if contractors claim escalation, the BCC will have to pay for it.