Jaypee threatens to shut city’s only garbage processing plant

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 29

Jaypee Group, which operates the garbage processing plant at Dadu Majra, has threatened the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation to shut the plant on March 31 over non-payment of tipping fee by the civic body.

In November last year, the MC House had rejected the agenda to provide tipping charges to Jaypee Group for processing garbage.

A letter from the plant management was placed before the MC House today by MC Joint Commissioner Rajiv Gupta. In the letter, it was stated that the plant management was suffering a loss of Rs 50 lakh every month and unless the MC paid the tipping fee, it would shut the plant on March 31.

Jaypee Group had also filed a petition in this regard before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. It pleaded that the MC was not paying any tipping fee or any subsidy whereas every such plant in India was getting tipping fee. The HC had directed the MC to take a decision on the claim raised by Jaypee Group before November 8, 2015. However, the MC House rejected Jaypee’s demand of tipping fee on the grounds that the garbage was being lifted by MC vehicles.

25% waste dumped without processing

The city generates 350 to 400 tonnes of solid waste daily. The waste is managed by the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation. There is only one garbage processing plant at Dadu Majra, which processes approximately 75 per cent of the garbage while the remaining is dumped at a dumping ground without processing.

Can’t shut plant as per MoU: Mayor

}As per the MoU, they cannot shut the plant. In case they do so, the MC will take legal action against them.— Arun Sood, Mayor 

If Jaypee Group shuts the plant, the MC should blacklist the firm.— Subhash Chawla, former Mayor