Quality of service to determine payment to private operators

Chennai Corporation has set new performance indicators in waste management

New guidelines: The performance indicators will help deal with challenging civic issues. R. Ragu

The Chennai Corporation is planning to introduce a new system of payment to private conservancy operators.

At present, payment is based on quantity of waste collected. Henceforth, it will be based on various performance indicators.

The Corporation pays ₹1,836 per tonne of municipal solid waste collected. “As per the new system, 50% of the payment will be made based on performance indicators that evaluate various parameters,” said an official.

For example, the private conservancy operator will have to segregate waste at source for all the households, which is one of the service parameters.

“The efficiency of waste collection should be 100% of the project area. Otherwise, we may reduce the payment for the conservancy operator,” the official said.

The private operator would also have to carry out door-to-door collection in 100% of the streets. Any deficiency in service would lead to reduction of the amount paid.

Workers of the private operator will also have to comply with the waste collection schedule and redress 100% of the residents’ complaints within 24 hours. “Residents may call helpline 1913 and the waste will be cleared in 24 hours. Any delay by the private operator to clear garbage within 24 hours will lead to deduction of money,” the official added.

Frequency of services

Other performance indicators include frequency of services, compliance of street sweeping schedule and clearing of secondary storage bins.

The civic body will have a schedule for repair and washing of secondary storage bins.

The private operator should not mix municipal solid waste with drain silt or construction and demolition waste. The workers should wear personal protective equipment. “If they fail, we will not pay,” the official said.

The Hindu had, in an investigation published on June 11, revealed that the private contractors were duping the State by mixing construction debris with solid waste, in order to increase the tonnage, and consequently the billing.

The performance indicators will be useful tools for decision-makers of the civic body in dealing with challenging civic issues. The performance indicators also evaluate the environmental, economic and social impact of privatisation.