MC to earn Rs 5 crore by sale of land

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 13

The Municipal Corporation, Bathinda, (MCB) is planning to give its 4.5 acre land to Cargill private company at a cost of Rs 5 crore to finance its door-to-door collection of garbage scheme in the city.

MCB officials today held a meeting with the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) members. In the meeting, they discussed the issue of giving the land to the company.

The Punjab State Industrial and Export Corporation (PSIEC) had allotted this land to the MCB long ago at the growth centre at a cost of Rs 750 sq yard.

Now, Cargill company has asked the state government for the land at a cost of Rs 2,500 sq yard as it is expanding its unit of cattle feed.

The company has said the expansion would create new jobs and bring development in the region.

F&CC members have given their approval claiming that the MCB is getting Rs 4-5 crore in its kitty from the land.

The MCB was using the land to store water when sullage carrier used to overflow. The PSIEC has assured provision of other land for on temporary basis for storing water.

MCB officials also tabled two other reports in the meeting. The first one was on the operational cost to be borne by the MCB using mini-tippers and the other was related to using rickshaws for the door-to-door collection of garbage in the city.

In the second report, it was stated that 230 rickshaws would be required along with 14 mini-tippers and per tonne garbage collection would cost Rs 1,200.

It has to spend Rs 4.25 crore on the purchase of the vehicles and Rs 3.19 on labour. The MCB has to bear Rs 3.6 crore per month as cost of operation.

In the report of mini-tippers, it was stated that 62 mini-tippers are required along with 11 rickshaws and Rs 6.10 crore would be spent in purchasing vehicles. While Rs 1.41 crore would be its labour cost and its per tonne garbage cost would be Rs 849. The MCB has to bear Rs 2.52 crore as cost of operation per month.

F&CC members claimed that it has been decided to push mini-tipper model for collection of garabge in the city.

Mayor Balwant Rai Nath, senior deputy mayor Tarsem Goyal, deputy mayor Gurinderpal Kaur Mangat, Municipal Commissioner Sanyam Aggarwal, F&CC members, councillors Harmander Singh and Nirmal Singh Sandhu were present in the meeting.

Meeting of MCB officials

• MCB officials on Tuesday held a meeting with the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) members. In the meeting, they discussed the issue of giving the land to the company. 
• The Punjab State Industrial and Export Corporation (PSIEC) had allotted this land to the MCB long ago at the Industrial Growth Centre at a cost of Rs 750 sq yard.
• Now, Cargill company has asked state government for the land at a cost of Rs 2,500 sq yard as it is expanding its unit of cattle feed.
• The company has said the expansion would create new jobs and bring development in the region.