The Hindu 10.03.2011
Nod for purchase of anti-mosquito breeding provisions
After the process for purchasing anti-mosquito breeding provisions was
stalled earlier this month by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi owing
to question marks being raised over the procurement process, the decks
were cleared for the same at a meeting of the Standing Committee on
Wednesday.
In its bid to prevent the outbreak of malaria, dengue
and other diseases the civic body would now be purchasing 1,40,000 kg of
temephos granules worth Rs.50.08 lakh to prevent breeding in clean
stagnant water in coolers and uncovered overhead tanks, 40 tonnes of
malathion technical worth Rs.57.64 lakh used for fogging operation to
kill adult mosquitoes, 5,400 litres of pyrethrum extract worth Rs.76.43
lakh for spraying to kill adult mosquitoes by mixing it with kerosene
oil and 2,75,000 litres of bio-larvicides worth Rs.27.22 lakh.
At its earlier meeting held on March 1, the civic body
had postponed the items relating to these purchases following a debate
by municipal councillors over roping in of government-owned enterprise
HLL as a consultant for the procurement process instead of the MCD
directly acquiring these anti-mosquito breeding provisions. As per the
proposals, in all the cases, HLL would fix the rate of procurement and
the supplier agency for one year and get 2 per cent as consultancy
charge.
Essential purchases
However, MCD Standing Committee chairman Yogender
Chandolia said the procurement was being given the go-ahead for now
keeping in view the fact that these were essential purchases and would
be needed for undertaking anti-mosquito breeding operations slated to
begin soon. “We have, however, asked our Health Department to improve
their technical prowess and look into why the MCD has to pay consultancy
charges to another agency instead of making the purchases themselves,”
he added.
