Sanitation hit as new contractor yet to take over

Sanitation services in the city have been thrown into disarray as the private company awarded contracts for garbage collection and processing has yet to begin operations. As a result, heaps of garbage have started piling up along roadsides. While the Amritsar Municipal Corporation (AMC) has made stopgap arrangements by hiring former employees of the previous contractor, the system remains irregular and poorly coordinated.

Residents reported that some of these former employees began collecting Rs 100 per household for garbage collection, double the Rs 50 fee charged by the previous firm. When contacted, MC officials concerned claimed they were unaware of the situation.

Despite floating two separate tenders for wards 1-43 and 44-85, the MC awarded both contracts to a single firm, Triple R. The corporation is currently in the process of issuing the work order.

A senior MC official stated that Triple R would likely begin operations only by December, as the company requires time to fabricate small carts, mini trucks, and tippers needed for garbage lifting. The setup of infrastructure as mandated under the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, is expected to take more than two months.

In the interim, the MC has implemented temporary measures until the new firm becomes operational. “If we float a short-term tender for just three months, the city will turn into a dump in no time. Instead, we have hired tractor-trolleys and other vehicles, and engaged former Averda drivers and workers on daily wages,” said a senior MC official.

He also acknowledged reports of some drivers demanding Rs 100 per household but stressed that this was not permitted. “The MC’s general house has fixed the monthly collection fee at Rs 50 per household. No one is allowed to charge beyond that,” he affirmed.