BMC: No truth in Mithi tender rigging charge

Mumbai: The BMC on Saturday claimed that there is no truth in allegations of irregularities in the Mithi river desilting tenders and noted that the tender has not been finalised yet. The Shiv Sena (UBT) had alleged a Rs 90 crore scam in the desilting tender, with party MLC Anil Parab stating the BMC's tender was rigged to favour a company and to restrict others.
Parab alleged the tender condition of having a 35m long boom for a crane for desilting favours a company as only one company manufactures such a crane. He wrote a letter to BMC chief Bhushan Gagrani in this regard.
The BMC said in a statement, "The Mithi River bed is very wide in many places. Considering this fact, the condition of deploying a 35-meter long boom and an excavator machine with a bucket capacity of 1.5 cubic meters to remove silt from the river has been included in the tender, so that the work of removing silt from the Mithi River can be done effectively. The tender process is not finalised yet. Some bidders have filed a petition in the Bombay High Court. Therefore, the matter is sub judice. The next hearing on it will be held on March 4. BMC will take further action as per the orders of the HC."