The GHMC’s standing committee has once again decided to re-open the government-cleared deal with Ramky Enviro-Engineers for taking up the Integrated Solid Waste Management Project at Jawaharnagar.
Mayor Mohd. Majid Hussain, presiding over the weekly meeting, observed that entering into the agreement with the firm was the “biggest mistake” the municipal corporation had ever made. Due to the deal, the civic body was unable to take up any new initiative towards better sanitation and cleanliness in the twin cities.
He and other members felt that neither new vehicles nor any new machinery could be purchased because of the pact. They demanded that the Additional Commissioner (Health & Sanitation) provide all the details of the agreement and also the violations made by the firm thus far.
As per the Rs.430 crore MoU, the civic body should have handed over two circles on a pilot basis for garbage collection and transfer to the dump yard before extending the same gradually to other circles. The firm was also tasked to improve the Jawaharnagar yard, which it claims to have done with a boundary wall, internal roads and other works.
GHMC is reluctant to purchase any new machines before it has to hand over all the infrastructure to the firm when it takes over the operations. The workers unions have been vehemently opposing the deal notwithstanding assurances that no jobs will be affected. Cement roads at Talabchanchalam and storm water drain work in Rajendranagar were the other works cleared in the meeting.
