1.2cr tender for Banganga Tank desilting work floated by BMC

Mumbai: The BMC D-ward has floated a tender worth Rs 1.2 crore for carrying out the desilting of Banganga Tank in Walkeshwar. An earlier attempt to carry out desilting of the tank had run into trouble as the contractor engaged in desilting work had used an excavator in the tank, which led to the heritage steps of the tank being damaged while desilting work was carried out on Jun 24. Following the incident, BMC terminated the contract of Savani Heritage Conservation for the restoration of tank and its precinct.A work order for the restoration of the historic Banganga Tank and its precinct area was issued to Savani on March 16 this year. Subsequently, the contractor sought permission to engage small excavators to carry out the work. However, the project management consultants as well as the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums department had rejected the use of an excavator. The contractor had also sublet work to another contractor without the approval of BMC. The contractor had also gone ahead and used an excavator. The damage to the steps sparked outrage among citizens and heritage activists. An FIR was registered on June 25 against three persons associated with the firm carrying out the work. Subsequently, BMC replaced and repaired damaged stairs of the tank.Civic officials later claimed that the contractor had carried out between 10 and 12 percent of the work of the Rs 4.5 crore contract. Officials had also indicated that fresh tenders would be floated for carrying out the restoration work.BMC D-ward officer Sharad Ughade did not respond to phone calls and messages seeking a comment about the status of the project. Activist Santosh Daundkar said, "For a restoration project like Banganga Tank, BMC's heritage department should have carried out the project and not the ward. BMC will appoint a new contractor now and will end up spending additional money on the project. The heritage department should take over the project, as it has the required expertise to carry out such a project."