Nullah cleaning delayed, tendering process runs late

The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) may fail to keep its date with pre-monsoon cleaning this year following a delay in the tendering process that has pushed crucial cleaning operations dangerously close to the onset of the rainy season.

- Siddharth Gadkari

PUNE:

While the civic body typically initiates the nullah cleaning process in February, it was able to finalize tenders only in the last week of March, reducing the window for effective implementation.

Civic officials have acknowledged delay may impact timely completion of desilting and cleaning work, which is essential to prevent flooding and waterlogging during rainfall.

Usual timeline missed Historically, the PMC floats tenders in February and allocates cleaning work by early March. This allows contractors a two-month buffer to clean major nullahs, stormwater drains, rain gutters, and sewer lines before the monsoon begins in June. The tender process involves inviting bids from private contractors, who are assigned work across different administrative zones of the city.