Mumbai: BJP MLA Mihir Kotecha has urged BMC to adopt an output-based empanelment system for housekeeping services at civic hospitals after flagging alleged irregularities in tenders worth Rs 45 crore earlier this year.
In a letter to BMC chief Ashwini Bhide, Kotecha called for structural reforms in awarding housekeeping contracts. “Instead of awarding large contracts to a single agency, BMC should adopt the output-based empanelment system wherein multiple qualified agencies are empanelled through a transparent process and work is allocated among them. Such a system will promote transparency, healthy competition, better service quality, and cost efficiency while preventing monopolistic practices,” said the BJP MLA.
Kotecha said no agency should receive more than two or three hospital contracts. This will ensure adequate distribution of work and reduce operational risks, he added.
“While the proposed reforms are being operationalised, BMC may ensure that essential housekeeping services in BMC hospitals remain unaffected,” Kotecha said. “BMC should initiate necessary policy reforms in the larger public interest and ensure that current tender be taken up only until the output-based new panel system is adopted.”
In May, Kotecha had highlighted irregularities in the tender and had accused senior health department officials of being “hand-in-glove” in the tender manipulation.
BMC relies heavily on private agencies to manage cleaning, sanitation and multi-purpose labour across peripheral and major civic hospitals like KEM, Cooper and HBT.
