MC files counter claim of Rs 850 cr against JITF firm

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, September 21

The Municipal Corporation (MC) of Bathinda has filed a counter-claim of Rs850 crore against JITF, a private company which had earlier filed Rs754 crore claim on the MC, over not fulfilling the agreement norms during a arbitrator panel’s hearing held few days back.

The company has sought time to file its reply on the counter-claim filed by the MC. The next date of hearing is December 9.

The MC has claimed that the company wants to run away from the responsibility of managing the solid waste plant and is thus, violating the agreement norms.

Earlier this year, the firm which runs a solid waste management plant in the city, claimed Rs754 crore from the civic body for not cooperating with them in running the plant.The company alleged the MC had not provided them garbage and land according to the agreement, due to which they were unable to run the plant. It also stated that the company had faced huge financial losses in the past few years due to the negligence of the MC.

The solid waste management plant was the first in the state and if it closes down, it would not only create a problem of garbage disposal in the district and nearby areas, but will also set a bad precedent for future such projects in the state.

Project’s tough journey

• The Local Bodies Department and JITF had signed a contract for running the solid waste treatment plant for 25 years from November 23, 2011 to December 2036.
• Started as a pilot project, the plant faced the ire of the public within a week, after it got operational on a trial basis in January 2016.
• Since then, residents of around 20 colonies near the plant have been protesting against it. They also announced to boycott the SAD candidate in the Assembly elections, after which Manpreet promised to shift the plant after coming to power.