When the tenders opened this year, Manisha Constructions quoted 58 per cent below the estimated cost. Realising that such a low quotation may not ensure quality work, the department attached a recommendation to the proposal: If the contract is awarded, a retired civic official should be appointed to supervise the work, informed Deputy Municipal Commissioner N B Achrekar. The officer would get a cut of two to three per cent of the entire cost of the work, he added.

Each contract is between Rs three and five lakh, and the work will be carried out in eight wards in the western suburbs and sixin the eastern suburbs. While each ward has been allotted Rs 50 lakh for the repairs, the costs could increase upto a crore depending on the nature of work, informed Chief Engineer in charge of storm water drains, K V Shah. The additional costs can be approved later by the Mayor-in-Council.

Two years ago, a contractor who was not awarded the contract despite bidding lowest at 30 per cent moved Bombay High Court. The court directed BMC to award the contract to the lowest quotation. Thus last year, all the tenders received were quoted below the estimated cost, but the lowest tender was just 30 per cent below.

The corporation has also attempted to stint on money by carrying out desilting of major drains during the rains this year minus hired labour. Deputy Mayor Gopal Shetty announced that though this move was opposed by the Municipal Mazdoor Union, the department was firm on its decision. ``Of the 24 major drains, we will desilt eight on an experimental basis,'' he informed, adding that contract labourerswill be hired for the remaining drains. The corporation hopes to save about Rs four crore.