JOIN USWater supply: MCC decides to extend JUSCO contract
Despite opposition from some quarters against the continuation of water supply contract to Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company (JUSCO), Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) council decided to extend the contract of the company for six more months, here on Tuesday.
A special council meeting was convened by MCC, on the last day (Jan 27, 2015) of the tripartite agreement between MCC, JUSCO and Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board (KUWSDB), to decide on the fate of JUSCO.
Corporators who expressed their dissatisfaction over the works taken up by JUSCO in the past five years, decided towards extending the contract, as “water supply would be hampered”, if the contract was not extended.
MLA Vasu, speaking at the meeting said that MCC had “exhausted all options” for providing water supply to the city. “MCC is not prepared to take up the responsibility of water supply. In public interest, JUSCO contract has to be extended,” he said.
‘Ready to go’
Earlier, MCC Commissioner C G Betsurmath said that JUSCO was “ready to go”. “However, we should consider whether we are ready to handle water supply on our own,” he said. He said that terminating the contract would result in MCC bearing additional expenses.
He said that MCC will have to spend Rs two crore every month for water supply to 65 wards in the city, while JUSCO would supply the same for a cost of Rs 58 lakh every month.
Withholding information
Following the statements made by Betsurmath, JD(S) Corporator Nataraj alleged that MCC officials were withholding some terms from the council.
“While JUSCO has to ensure water supply for 1,33,000 connections as per the contract, the company has laid down 30 conditions to ensure operation and maintenance of these connections. Fulfilling the conditions set by JUSCO will cost Rs three crore per month for MCC,” he said.
He also questioned why the meeting was held on the last day of the contract, while the issue should have been taken up for discussion at least two months ago.
Responding to the same, Betsurmath said that decision regarding variation cost and other terms and conditions have to be taken up at a government level. “Managing Director of KUWSDB has asked us to continue the contract,” he said.
Commenting on the same, BJP Corporator Nandish Preetham took officials to task for hiding these terms and conditions, and said that such terms would only be a burden for the tax payers of Mysuru city.
Lack of preparation
Corporators also took objection to the lethargic manner in which MCC officials had approached the issue. Congress Corporator J S Jagadish said that MCC should have prepared its officials to handle the water supply at least a few months before the contract term was set to expire.
Betsurmath said that extending the contract would provide enough time to train MCC staff to handle water supply and maintenance.
Monitoring committee
During the meeting, corporators also demanded that a monitoring committee be set up to overview the works taken up by JUSCO till the end of its contract period in the city. They said that it would ensure that JUSCO completes projects on time.