Gururaj A Paniyadi/TNN

Mangalore, Mar 19: The opinion from the legal adviser on the issue of spot water billing comes as a jolt to the corporators and mayor, who were keen to see that the contractor entrusted with the job of spot billing is discontinued and another, prepared to do the work at a much lower rate, is given the contract.

The legal adviser of the Mangalore City Corporation has said in his reply to mayor Ganesh Hosabettu that the present contractor to whom the work has been given by MCC should continue for the term of one year, to evade any legal hassles.

The mayor had sought legal opinion to see if they could change the present contractor, who is doing the work at Rs 6.70 per meter, and replace him with another, who is willing to do the same work at Rs 4.80 per meter.

Speaking to The Times of India, legal adviser Ramesh said that it would be better if the contractor is not changed, as the work order has been issued to him by MCC, and as per the agreement, MCC can end the contract next year if his work is not satisfactory. But if they terminate the contract now, then it may lead to unnecessary legal problems.

He added that though the tender was for three years, the work order was for one year. The contract involves more than Rs 1 crore for a three-year period and therefore, it needs to be modified.

As per MCC rules, any work which involves more than Rs 1 crore needs the permission of the government.

According to the contract, the corporation will pay Rs 6 per meter to the contractor when the entire MCC limits is taken up from April 1. Up to March 31, he will do spot billing for only 14 wards, which is the pilot zone. The MCC has around 64,000 connections in the city limits and thus, per year, MCC has to pay Rs 46,08,000 to the contractor. If the contract is for three years, then MCC has to pay Rs 1,38,24,000. Thus, the legal advisor has stated that if the contract is given for three years, then it needs the permission of the government.

He also said that the other option was to reduce the contract to two years so that the cost would be less than Rs 1 crore (Rs 92,16,000) and thus, it will not need the permission of the government.

Even if MCC agrees to continue the present contractor next year, it will have to modify the agenda passed by the administrator. If MCC has to modify, as per the Municipal Corporation Act, it has to be passed in a special meeting with a twothird majority, said Ramesh.