Magsaysay award winner Joakim's NGO SPARC blacklist by BMC

Showing the world how a life is lived in the slums of India, International Magsaysay award winner Joakim has been put in a fix. His NGO Spark and his contractor company Spark Corporation's subsidiary organisation has been blacklisted by the BMC, Its revels in a query filed by RTI Activist Anil Galgali. The Spark Group/Corporation has been slapped with a fine of Rs. 24 lakhs and has forcibly kept the earnest amount of Rs. 26 lakhs with itself, by the BMC.

RTI activist Anil Galgali had asked for the reasons for blacklisting M/s Spark in the Sanitation Department. Deputy Chief Engineer of the Sanitation Department of the BMC submitted the report along with the reasons for blacklisting the Spark Group. The BMC itself had intimated the Spark Group of blacklisting via its letter on the 26th February of 2016. Also on the 23of March 2016 the BMC cancelled the registration number 4127 of the NGO and Spark Group of Subsidiary companies bearing registration number 14884, and the contracts given therein, hence blacklisting the group of the next 5 year. No new work to be awarded, and to withhold the payments to be made were the instructions given by the BMC.

Non completion of the toilet repairs in the defects liability period and doing work at snails pace along with bogus quality were the main reasons for blacklisting the group.Also non-capapiliity and not getting work done in stipulated time,Gross underperformance, Failure of SPARC on part of NGO, Total disregard in following Engineering practices,  Penalized Action, Vague & Irrelevant reply of M/s SSNS, Insufficient Staff, Delays & Delays, Fraudulent Practices, Defect in works are some of the allegations put by the BMC. The work order was awarded on 3 January 2012 with Notice to proceed with the work with time period of 30 months ending on 30 June 2014. With a further extension of 1 year, the contract finally expired on 30 June 2015. Therefore, total contract period was 42 months. In the said 42 months, M/s SPARC & SNS has completed only 20 works with 8 works still in progress as on today.

Anil galgali has praised the efforts and the bold step of the BMC and in his letter to the Commissioner Ajoy Mehta has requested him to allot work at the ward level instead of giving it to one NGO or Contractor which will be more effective in completion of works and give Relief to resident of that area.