Without tenders, BMC gives job to 82 engineers

For the first time in the municipal corporation’s history, civic works were allotted to unemployed engineers on Monday without calling for tenders.

For the first time in the municipal corporation’s history, civic works were allotted to unemployed engineers on Monday without calling for tenders.

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In a bid to provide employment and curb corruption in the process of awarding works, the civic standing committee and administration had decided to allocate works to unemployed engineers without inviting any tenders.

On Monday, 73 civic engineers and nine engineers registered with the municipal corporation were awarded works up to Rs 5 lakh after a lottery system at the BMC headquarters.

Under the scheme, the engineers will undertake developmental works using the corporators’ funds.

These engineers will not have to submit any depository sum, and only 50 per cent of the security deposit amount will be deducted from their work bill, said standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale. The amount will be returned to them after the completion of work, he added.

However, this move may backfire because the engineers are inexperienced and work quality may be compromised, said a civic official, on the condition of anonymity.

“The Shiv Sena is resorting to all kinds of tricks to set the stage for the forthcoming civic elections, but the problem is that the quality of the work carried out by these inexperienced people will not be up to the mark,” said the official.

Mayor Shraddha Jadhav said the decision would help reduce unemployment in the city. “Since the last three years, these jobless engineers had been trying to secure civic works. The allotment of works will also help other unemployed labourers find work,” she said.