The three-year contract 24 was worth Rs 16.44 compared to the previous contract at Rs 64.75 which ended in May 11, 1998 and later continued with three extensions of six months each given by the then Mayor-in-Council (MiC) to the same set of contractors. The new contract was divided among 24 contractors as against 49 on the previous occasion.

One of the important conditions of the previous contract had stipulated that there would be no cost escalation due to rise in the cost of inputs like petrol, tyres etc and by the time the contract expired the civic administration had already spent Rs 82.72 crore, the additional amount of Rs 18 crore was spent without the sanction of the Standing Committee.

Committee members felt that since monsoons have arrived the debris will get wet and make it more difficult to cart it away. Considering the urgency of the issue, the proposal was put tovote and passed unanimously.