BMC chief to inspect Mithi river project

Municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte has decided to scrutinise the Mithi river-widening project and has asked civic officials to explain its huge cost escalation, following reports in HT about financial irregularities and project mismanagement, officials said.

Municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte has decided to scrutinise the Mithi river-widening project and has asked civic officials to explain its huge cost escalation, following reports in HT about financial irregularities and project mismanagement, officials said.

HT Image

The original estimate to widen and deepen the Mithi and building a retaining wall along its 11.8-km stretch was Rs. 246 crore, but by the time the project is completed, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will have spent about Rs. 800 crore.

“Kunte will study all reports related to Mithi, including the IIT report about the presence of hard rocks in the river bed,” said an official requesting anonymity.

The BMC has also decided to figure out the amount of rocks excavated and compare it with the amount transported to the dumping ground.

In 2007, without conducting a geological survey, the BMC had appointed five contractors for the work. A year later, it extended the scope of the project without inviting fresh tenders. Kunte was not available for comment.