Corporator blames MCC officials for JUSCO failures

Ahead of a special council meeting of the Mysuru City Corporation (MCC), to discuss the renewal of the contract of Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company (JUSCO), Corporator S L Bhyrappa has urged the council to ensure that JUSCO completes all pending works, before it is relieved.

Meanwhile, activists allege that corporators were ‘profiting’ from JUSCO and it is likely that they would decide for extending JUSCO’s stay in the city. Addressing a press meet, Bhyrappa, on Monday, attacked MCC officials and blamed them for the delay in completion of the 24x7 water supply works by JUSCO. “MCC officials did not cooperate with JUSCO, while executing the works.

This caused delay in completion of works in several parts of the city,” he said.

JUSCO was awarded a contract to change the water supply pipelines in Mysuru city and to ensure 24x7 water supply, on January 11, 2008. The agreement was worth Rs 161.89 crore, of which Rs 120 crore was construction cost and Rs 41 crore for maintenance.

Contract

“However, JUSCO was not paid any maintenance cost, while MCC officials also failed to collect water bills. Till date, JUSCO has been paid Rs 83.85 crore.

Allowing JUSCO to end the contract would result in a loss to the MCC, as several works are yet to be completed. So, the council should take a decision to ensure that JUSCO completes all pending works,” he said.

However, M Basavaraju, convenor of Neerina Hakigaagi Janaandolana, said, the corporators were ‘profiting’ from JUSCO and alleged that such a nexus has allowed JUSCO to continue its operations in the city.

Trial runs

As per the contract, JUSCO had to ensure that all the 65 wards received 24x7 water supply by 2015. But, only trial runs of 24x7 water supply has been taken up in four wards of the MCC, while works to re-lay pipes in all wards are far from complete, he said.

Penal action

He demanded penal action against JUSCO for lapse as per the terms of the contract.
In a press meet, Ayub Khan of Samaja Rakshana Vedike has also urged the council to cancel the contract and initiate legal action against JUSCO.