MC to pay Rs 6 crore annually to run 24x7 water supply pilot project in Manimajra

The defect liability period of the 24x7 Water Supply (Pilot) Project under Smart City Mission in Manimajra ended today.

A defect liability period is a contractually defined timeframe after a project’s completion during which the contractor is responsible for fixing any defects or faults at its own cost. Now, the Municipal Corporation (MC) will have to pay nearly Rs 6 crore per annum for the operation and maintenance of the project to the company.

The success of the project has remained controversial. The Vigilance Department starting a probe after city BJP chief Jatinder Pal Malhotra wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alleging corruption in the project. The Union minister had inaugurated the project in August last year and Rs 75 crore were allocated for it under the Smart City Mission. Malhotra had stated that the whole project had collapsed and nobody was held accountable and responsible for the wastage of Rs 75 crore. Residents said that they have been getting muddy and dirty water supply since the launching of the pilot project.

A team of the Director General of Audit (Central Expenditure) also started a comprehensive performance audit of the project after MP and former Union Minister Manish Tewari wrote to the Comptroller and Auditor General of India about it. The audit will continue till November 14.