As private conservancy operator Ramky Enviro Engineers is increasingly finding it difficult to carry out conservancy operations, the Chennai Corporation on Tuesday decided to initiate penal action against the firm.
According to sources in the Chennai Corporation, the private conservancy operator is likely to face similar action taken against the previous operator, Neel Metal Fanalca. The civic body even warned that Ramky may be shown the door if it continues to work in a shoddy manner. Residents have started complaining about inadequate garbage clearance on several streets covered by the private operator.
Even though the private conservancy operator was asked to step up night conservancy by adding 500 more workers, the company was able to mobilise only a small portion of the required workers last week.
Officials at a meeting this week reminded the Ramky Enviro Engineers of stringent penal provisions of the conservancy contract.
They pointed to the fact that previous Chennai Corporation Council had expressed dissatisfaction over the performance of Neel Metal Fanalca (NMF) and recommended a gradual withdrawal of the operation a few years ago because of the inability of the company to carry out conservancy operations properly.
Between June and August 2010, the Corporation took over garbage clearance from select wards of Zone VIII. The State government finally permitted the Chennai Corporation to terminate the conservancy contract with NMF in parts of the city on December 31.
The next council meeting scheduled for June 19 is likely to discuss the issue of inadequate conservancy operations by Ramky.
At the meeting on Tuesday, officials of the civic body reviewed the situation of private conservancy operations in the city and found that the decisions taken last week to employ more conservancy workers was yet to be implemented.
The conservancy operator, in charge of solid waste management in three zones of the Chennai Corporation, has been unable to improve night conservancy as required by the civic body in Kodambakkam, Teynampet and Adyar zones.
The special purpose vehicle, Chennai Municipal Solid Waste Pvt. Ltd., set up by Ramky Enviro Engineers, launched operations across all the three zones in January. But, it couldn't cover the entire 88 sq km area properly owing to lack of conservancy workers.
Meanwhile, Ramky Enviro Engineers has also participated in an international invitation for expression of interest for public private partnership in three distinct solid waste management projects of the Chennai Corporation.
