MC official orders private firm to start bioremediation work

Amritsar Municipal Corporation (MC) Additional Commissioner Surinder Singh visited the Bhagtanwala dump site to review preparations for the bioremediation of the 11 lakh metric tonnes of legacy waste lying there. The MC has awarded the contract for the work to Ecosteen company through a tendering process.

The company has begun transporting machinery to the site, including poclain excavators and trommel machines, with more equipment to be installed soon. During the inspection, the Additional Commissioner instructed company officials to commence the bioremediation work within the next 10 days. Dr Kiran and representatives of the company were present during the visit.

Surinder Singh said as per the work order, Ecosteen company is committed to clearing all 11 lakh metric tonnes of waste within 15 months. The MC had floated a tender worth Rs 46.34 crore, which the company secured at 21 per cent below the estimate, bringing the cost down to Rs 36.54 crore. This requires the company to remediate an average of 3,333 metric tonnes of waste per day.

Within one month, the company must submit a detailed action plan to the municipal corporation, outlining daily and monthly progress. The site will be equipped with an electronic weighbridge linked to an online backup, and the entire process will be monitored via CCTV cameras. The company has also been directed to strictly follow the Solid Waste Management rules and the orders of the National Green Tribunal.

The Additional Commissioner emphasised that the work should begin at the earliest, strictly in line with the work order and contractual terms. South constituency MLA Dr Inderbir Singh Nijjar had earlier welcomed the project, calling it a major step by the municipal corporation to eliminate the waste heap at Bhagtanwala, which will bring a significant relief to local residents.