The decision was taken at the Standing Committee meeting after Congress corporator K A Bastiwala raised a point of order stating that since the term of the PWCs had ended, ward works were suffering. ``For example, there are several roadside gutters which are lying unattended. The rains will further compound citizens' miseries,'' said Bastiwala, adding that since the Corporators' Fund will be released soon, contractors should be given an extension immediately.

He was supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party's Vinod Ghedia, Congress' Annie Shekhar and Ravindra Pawar, Samajwadi Party's Baba Siddiqui and BJP's Arun Deo. Leader of the House, Digambar Kandarkar accused the administration of playing havoc with the issue. ``Usually, corporators plan on where to use their funds and according to the duration of contract.Administrative delays extend the duration before which several contractors leave,'' he said.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Subodh Kumar said the PWC issue had been enmeshed in litigation before the Supreme Court till April 14 this year. ``An order was passed stating that only the lowest bidder should be given the contract. Out of 105 contractors, we have contacted 85 persons. The rest are not in the city at present. So we will give the contract to the second lowest bidder,'' he said.