MUMBAI, March 19 -- The BMC has again extended the deadline for tenders for desilting the Mithi river to March 24 after receiving no bids. The original deadline of March 11 was earlier revised to March 17, but failed to attract any response. Newly elected corporators across party lines criticised civic officials and sought clarity on back-up plans if contractors continue to not respond to the tenders. Contractors have been reluctant to bid for Mithi desilting work since last year, when the Mumbai police arrested several contractors and civic officials in connection with alleged irregularities in desilting contracts. While there has been no response to the Mithi river tender, additional municipal commissioner Abhijit Bangar said the BMC has received bids for desilting minor nullahs in 21 of the city's 24 wards. "We can start from multiple locations with more machinery and maybe be able to complete the desilting before the May 31 deadline," he said, before adding that pre-monsoon showers continued to be a challenge....