Proposal to award solid waste management contract to pvt firm raises eyebrows
Execution of project involves about Rs 1,200 crore for initial eight years
The Municipal Corporation (MC) is in the process of floating tenders for solid waste management, the nod for which was given during the recent General House meeting.
Ever since the proposal to award the contract to a private company was mooted, eyebrows have been raised over the execution of the project, as it involves about Rs 1,200 crore for the initial eight years. The contract is likely to be extended for around 24 years thereafter, and the cost is expected to increase further.
Not only have Opposition leaders questioned the whopping amount to be paid to the private player for lifting garbage, officials in the MC are also in a tizzy over the issue of funds, as the civic body’s coffers are nearly empty.
“We will be under tremendous pressure to generate funds to pay the contractor. No doubt it would be an integrated project for which funds will be required from several quarters, but before jumping to any conclusion, we must face the reality that we have no funds. At present, the MC is spending approximately Rs 1,000 per tonne for the disposal of solid waste and Rs 1,200 crore would mean it may cost over Rs 3,000 per tonne. We have a few schemes through which funds can be generated but what about the remaining whopping amount? And it is an election year, no one knows which government will take over the reins. Such a step would put an unnecessary burden on MC officials,” said a senior official on condition of anonymity.
At the same time, a few other officials maintained that in metropolitan cities, the cost of lifting garbage ranges between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000 per tonne while in Punjab it was much lower. “If garbage is not lifted that too becomes a major issue. We had started night patrolling to catch those throwing solid waste on roads and in vacant plots. Videos of violations are made and sent to the Human Rights Commission and we landed in trouble again due to the same. The issue needs to be resolved,” rued an official.
In January 2026, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a Rs 1.54 crore fine on the Ludhiana MC for improper waste management and failure to clear legacy waste.
What MC chief says
MC Commissioner Neeru Katyal said solid waste management was a major issue in the city that needs urgent attention. She said it would be an integrated project, starting from lifting of garbage to its proper disposal and all funds would not be required immediately.
“We will float tenders and accordingly award the contract. Funds would be generated as and when required. Initially, there would be a requirement of about Rs 200 crore and gradually we will require and generate more funds,” she said.
