Move to buy 800 carts raises eyebrows amid civic body’s sanitation overhaul

Even as garbage collection has already been outsourced to a private firm, the Municipal Corporation, Ludhiana, has approved the purchase of 800 new wooden carts — raising eyebrows over overlapping responsibilities and spending priorities.

Decision comes in wake of e-rickshaw row

The decision comes in the wake of last year’s e-rickshaw controversy, where 80 GPS-fitted vehicles procured for Rs 9.36 crore went unaccounted for, sparking public outrage and demands for transparency.

The proposal was cleared during a recent meeting of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC).

Officials said the carts would be used for lifting garbage and collecting waste after sweeping and the same would be distributed across various wards.

However, the move has drawn criticism from councillors and residents alike. Congress councillor Gaurav Bhatti from Ward 26 questioned the timing and necessity of the purchase.

“What is the need to buy the carts when garbage collection has already been outsourced?” he asked. “The corporation should first explain what happened to the e-rickshaws. Public money must be accounted for,” Bhatti said.

The e-rickshaw issue, which triggered widespread concern earlier this year, has now seen a partial resolution. After internal review and public pressure, most of the vehicles were traced, with only two officially declared missing. An FIR has been registered in this regard.

Mayor Inderjit Kaur defended the corporation’s position.

“Only two e-rickshaws are officially missing and an FIR has already been registered. As far as 800 carts are concerned, these will be distributed in all wards and are hardly excessive when the cleanliness of the city is in question. Besides the garbage collection, there are many other works related to sanitation of the city,” she said.

Civic activist Ravinder Singh welcomed the FIR but urged continued vigilance. “It’s good that the vehicles were traced but the fact that it took public pressure to act is troubling. Procurement must go hand-in-hand with accountability,” he said. As Ludhiana prepares for a fresh round of sanitation upgrades, residents are watching closely — not only for cleaner streets but for governance also, he added.