Chennai Corporation has directed Neel Metal Fanalca (NMF), the private firm engaged in conservancy operations in four zones, to improve its quality of work and take measures to reduce complaints about its operations.
Representatives of various political parties and from the private firm attended a meeting convened by the civic body at Ripon Building here on Monday.
Complaining that the clearing of the garbage by the firm was erratic, representatives of the parties wanted a quick remedy to the problem in zone 1 (Tondiarpet), zone 2 (Royapuram), zone 8 (Kodambakkam) and zone 10 (Adyar). The firm did not have adequate manpower or equipment to carry out the conservancy operations properly, they said.
Opposition leader in the Corporation Council Saidai P.Ravi said: “We want NMF to withdraw its service. Even if the firm recruits 300 more employees, it will not be enough to manage the conservancy operations.” It needs 65 more compactors for better functioning.
The representatives from the firm said that the civic body was not paying them on time. The firm had quoted very less to clear garbage compared to CES Onyx. Though the contract had provision for source segregation, it was not being implemented, he said.
Mayor M. Subramanian said that the private firm had been given time till mid-February to improve its service.
Officials of the firm had assured the civic body that 100 more workers would be recruited and 50 more vehicles purchased by February.
“The NMF representatives must discuss with the respective councillors in the zones the steps taken to improve operation every month. We have asked them to provide a detailed report of the proposed measures to the Corporation soon,” Mr. Subramanian said.
The civic body has already taken over conservancy operation in some of the wards in zones 8 and 10. Though the representatives from the private firm wanted to continue the operation in those wards, the meeting decided to discuss their demand later.
Officials of the Corporation said the four zones generate 1,100 tonnes of garbage daily and the firm had engaged 1,100 conservancy workers for the operation.
Besides replacing 75 per cent of the bins that have been damaged, the private firm was instructed to repair compactors and clean the streets. The work has to be completed within 10.30 a.m. daily, an official said. Representatives of NMF declined to comment on the decisions taken at the meeting.
