After getting delayed by almost six years, the waste-to-energy-plant project at the Deonar dumping ground has once again hit a roadblock — this time because of a clash between the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) administration and corporators over assigning the project contract. If the civic body hands over the project to the bidder chosen by the standing committee, then the total cost will increase by Rs 271 crore, which is 30 per cent more than the lowest bid.

As per the proposal tabled in the standing committee on January 30, the administration has proposed to give the contract to the lowest bidder — M/s Chennai MSW company for a cost of R1,020 crore. The cost includes infrastructure and expenses involved in the 15-year lifespan of the plant. The second-lowest bidder — Suez project — has pitched a cost of R1,291 crore. Standing Committee chairman, Yashwant Jadhav, had not taken up the matter for hearing in the last three meetings, but he finally discussed it on Tuesday, just four days prior to the next high court hearing on February 22.