Now, JUSCO wants to appraise MCC staff

In what is being described by activists as a move to completely privatise water supply, Jamshedpur Urban Services and Utilities Company Ltd (JUSCO) has proposed to issue certification for the satisfactory performance of deputed staff to Mysore City Corporation (MCC). The assessment will be done every month before payment of salaries to the deputed staff.

The proposal however has been met with opposition from official quarters and activists alike. A total of 340 staff from MCC are currently under deputation with JUSCO.
Moreover, excess staff, over and above the contract agreement deputed to JUSCO will be sent back to MCC. According to the contract, JUSCO had sought deputation of 240 staff from the civic body.

Apart from this, the company has also sought MCC and Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB) to allow it to hire people from the market with MCC compensating for the salaries of the deputed staff.

JUSCO has also sought payment for ‘additional effort’ of the company to issue and collect water bills from consumers.

Rajgopal S S, Executive Engineer of Vani Vilas Water Works (VVWW) said that the proposals are yet to be approved by MCC.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, Rajgopal said that JUSCO was given the tender for water supply under Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission (JnNURM), as the company had claimed to have had expertise in the field. The works, however, has been far from satisfactory.

Rajgopal, who is involved in Operations and Maintenance (O&M) works, said that JUSCO, as per the contract had to complete all O&M works by the end of January 2013. However, deadline for completion of O&M works was extended by six months, till July 2013. “Four months after the deadline, O&M works are still not complete,” he said.

Asked about the proposal by JUSCO to certify MCC, he said that he would analyse the terms and conditions of the contract, before taking a decision about the same.

K P Jayaram, Executive Engineer of KUWSDB, when contacted said that MCC will have to decide on the proposals of JUSCO, as they are still in a ‘discussion stage’. On the continuous delay by JUSCO in completing projects, he said that JUSCO was given an extension for completion of works once. “Since, works are pending, we will have to decide the extent of penalties to be imposed on the company for the delay,” he said. He added that MCC and KUWSDB were hoping that JUSCO would complete as much works as possible, before the deadline for the completion of first phase of JnNURM works.

M Basavaraju, Convenor of Neerina Hakkigagi Janaandolana, said that the proposals of JUSCO was unconstitutional. “JUSCO is just a contractor of MCC. It should work within its limits,” he said.

Though there were several decisions taken o include JUSCO in the blacklist, once in a meeting chaired by former chief minister D V Sadananda Gowda. But, they continue to operate in the city, he said. He alleged that the kickbacks given by the company to few officials and elected representatives had helped JUSCO survive in the city, despite the company making a poor job of the projects awarded to it.

A K Shivaraja, Communications Manager of JUSCO said that the company has set a target for Bill collectors and other staff deputed by VVWW, as per guidelines by VVWW. JUSCO will only ensure that these guidelines to reach set targets are followed, he said.