MC to hire three firms for garbage collection

The Municipal Corporation has decided to hire three private firms for door-to-door collection of garbage, bio-remediation and installation/operation of a waste-to-energy plant in the city. Earlier, the Municipal Corporation had hired one private firm for door-to-door waste collection, bio-remediation and setting up the waste-to-energy plant. Despite tall claims, the private firm failed to initiate work on bio-remediation and the waste-to-energy plant. The company was only collecting garbage from the city but due to inadequate infrastructure, several new dumping grounds have emerged.

MC officials claimed that awarding all responsibilities to one company was not a good decision. Learning a lesson from previous experience, the MC would now hire three private firms.

Municipal Health Officer Dr Kiran Kumar stated that a request for proposal (RFP) is being prepared to start the process for inviting tenders. “Though the previous firm Averda will continue operations for the next six months, we will try to complete the tender process before its services come to an end. The new companies would start work before Averda leaves the job and residents will not face any inconvenience. We have decided to issue three separate tenders for door-to-door garbage collection, bio-remediation and the installation and operation of a waste-to-energy plant,” he said.

It is worth mentioning here that in August 2024, the MC passed a resolution to review the working of the solid waste management firm, Averda. The decision was taken on the instructions of the Chief Secretary, Punjab, in response to the hearing of a case in the National Green Tribunal (NGT). As per the report, a large number of vehicles were worn out and the company was also facing financial issues.

Last week, the company gave a notice to the Amritsar Municipal Corporation to quit its services after six months.