A defoaming operation is set to begin in Yamuna near Kalindi Kunj, with equipment already in place.
In a news conference Thursday, the party alleged that the process was structured to favour a “pre-determined contractor”. The defoaming chemicals, those present on the site said, were yet to arrive. During a visit, TOI found tents set up and divided into three sections. Equipment and machinery, along with a tanker of the Delhi Jal Board were present on site. The contractor, ICON Instruments Company, refused to comment on the controversy and redirected qu-estions to Delhi Jal Board (DJB) officials, stating that the work was being handled by them.
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that even before the tender bids for the work were opened. It also alleged that three days before the tender bids were opened, the contractor had already started to set up equipment at the site.
Responding to the allegations, DJB assistant chemist Sandeep Verma said, “We have been carrying out the defoaming process since 2022. DJB conducts a defoaming campaign every year, and we successfully carried it out in 2023 as well. We have issued a tender worth Rs 80 lakh, plus applicable taxes, for this work.”
All the infrastructure you currently see here belongs to DJB.
This ghat was not previously included in the list of designated ghats but a defoaming campaign was conducted here last year as well. The firm that carried out the work last year had this equipment available and it was in our stock.