Despite controversy over an internal note by the chief accountant of the BMC,which points out flaws in the allegedly corrupt civil works contracts (CWC) system,the civic body has floated tenders for the same. The two-yearly ward level contracts for 2010-12 expired on March 31 and tenders for 2012-14 have now been floated. The BMC said a new system of thorough checks and balances will be introduced so that no unnecessary work is undertaken and quality is maintained. Corporators in last weeks standing committee meeting had raised objections to the note circulated by chief accountant (finance) Ram Dhas,which stated how contractors were in a nexus with ward-level officials and corporators and got orders for minor works. Dhas,through his note,sought introduction of a better system in place of CWC for two years on an experimental basis. A similar note suggesting ways to end malpractice at ward-level works was circulated by Dhas last year too.\ However,the civic body has planned to go ahead with the CWC. Additional municipal commissioner (city engineers department) Manisha Mhaiskar said the changes proposed in the note are slightly impractical and the BMC would ensure that there is no malpractice. It is not practical to invite tenders for every small ward-level work costing no more than Rs 2-3 lakh. We have gone ahead with CWC this time too but we have introduced two measures to curb malpractice. Only the ward officer will have the power to sanction works that he thinks need to be undertaken. This way,unnecessary works will not be undertaken. Moreover,sufficient quality audits for the works will be in place, she said. To avoid inspection by the vigilance department,the civic officials submit the bills towards the end of the financial year,hence theres no time for a quality check. This time we will make it mandatory for bills to be submitted within 15 days of completion of the work, Mhaiskar added.
