BMP contractors’ strike likely from Monday

BMP contractors’ strike likely from Monday
Deccan Herald

Come Monday and all civil work in the city may grind to a standstill. Nearly, 1,000 contractors are set to lock horns with the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike over a huge bill of Rs 150 crore that has been pending for the last eight months.

For the record, the contractors have pledged not to resume work on projects till the bill is cleared and all their other demands are fulfilled. Interestingly, the sudden decision by the contractors to stall work, which comes close on the heels of the BMP’s recent move to audit projects, seems like no mere coincidence.

“The bill has been pending for the last eight months. Even the work files are not moving despite clearance from the Work Committee. Even our security deposits are to be refunded. Unless the BMP clears the pending bill, we cannot resume work,” said members of the BMP Contractors’ Association, who are threatening to stall all ongoing projects, from culverts to footpaths and drains to roads.

The contractors also alleged that the BMP is resorting to re-tendering even in case of single tenders arising out of rejections based on technical grounds. They said the increase in the price of cement from Rs 145 per bag to Rs 230 has made it difficult for them to accept BMP tenders.

Grievances pertaining to the quality of completed projects is claimed to be the reason for the BMP’s unwillingness to pay up. BMP Commissioner K Jairaj recently introduced a “work audit” or physical verification of projects. The findings of a work audit carried out by a 10-member team of senior BMP officials put a big question mark on the quality and quantity of all development work.

According to the commissioner, many road asphalting projects were complete but had no quality certificates. In many instances, the change of work had no approval of any competent authority, measurement of works found no mention in the measurement book and bogus bills were raised for work not done.

The team carried out physical verification of 20 per cent (474 projects) of all the works (2,500) and examined pending bills worth Rs 122 crore. A comprehensive inspection being carried out for the remaining 80 per cent is hoped to be completed by June 30.

Till then the face-off between the BMP and the contractors is likely to continue. And at stake is development work worth Rs 300 crore.

DEMANDS

*Clear pending bill of Rs 150 crore

* Consider escalation of cement price when

issuing tenders

* Pay security deposit within stipulated time

* Simplify the several tables in work orders

* Move files faster