Civic body likely to move green panel against JITF

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, December 16

The Municipal Corporation Bathinda (MCB) is likely to move the National Green Tribunal (NGT) against JITF Urban Waste Management Limited after it warned the civic body of suspending door-to-door garbage collection in the city and 19 municipal councils from January 1. 

The civic body is planning to stop tipping fee payment to the firm. 

MCB officials claim that they have written to the company, seeking 2-3 months to find an alternative. They said if the firm did not reply in 2-3 days, they would have to file an appeal against it in the NGT.

The MCB claims that if the company did not roll back its decision, it will affect the city's ranking in the Swachta Survey-2018 beginning January 4.

MCB Commissioner Sanyam Aggarwal has presented his views to the Local Bodies Department Chief Secretary and sought a strict action against the firm. He also sought the state government's intervention to resolve the issue.

In 2011, the MCB had signed a 25-year service pact with the company. As per the agreement, the company has to lift around 350 metric tonne garbage from Bathinda and nearby 18 municipal councils and reprocess it and convert it into fertiliser and RDF. The company has to set up a solid waste plant on the 30 acre given to it on the Mansa road. 

In the letter to the company, the MCB has stated that as per the agreement, no party can suspend the work without giving a three-month notice.