Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Firhad Hakim has confirmed that the maintenance and dredging work of the Tolly Nullah would soon start by the civic body. The tenders would be floated according the previous model instead of the Centre suggested Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). Trinamul councillor Jui Biswas recently brought up the issue of Tolly Nullah. She said that due to lack of maintenance and dredging, it is flooding the nearby areas in times of rainfall.

She said Tolly Nullah has several settlements surrounding it. Garbage is dumped in the canal by the encroachers. It has led to clogging of the whole drainage system. She specifically mentioned that water-logging is becoming a serious issue in ward 81 . After every rainfall, the stagnant water remains collected for more than a day. The garbage that is dumped near the canal is paving the way for vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria.”

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Commenting on the same, Hakim said: “We are aware that the problems surrounding the Tolly Nullah have been affecting large parts of South Kolkata. Ward 82 in Chetla is also affected by it. We had several meetings at the state secretariat regardingt the same. The problem is the Central government’s attitude. It has no connection with reality and hence 80 per cent of Centre’s fund under Namami Gange is lying unutilised.”

He added: “The Centre had suggested that tenders are needed to be invited under the HAB model. But it was observed that no contractors were willing to participate in the tender process. As a result, the work has not been undertaken. However, we have written to the Centre and have informed them that we are switching back to the original process of tendering. If Centre releases the fund, we will utilise it. Otherwise, we will take up the Tolly Nullah work using state funds.” The mayor admitted that there were several occasions when Tolly Nullah work was undertaken but stopped midway.

Earlier, the mayor said the Centre has finally given the green signal to the KMC for carrying out dredging in the Tolly Nullah. The clearance of the project was impending for the last four years. The KMC is also mulling plans of a rehabilitation package for the dwellers in the banks of the nullah.