NGT asks Punjab chief secy to resolve MC-A2Z row

Ludhiana: For resolving issues between Municipal Corporation Ludhiana and A2Z waste management company for completion of the solid waste project, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has now asked Punjab chief secretary Karan Avtar Singh to submit a report on the next hearing. Earlier, MC and A2Z were asked to sort out their issues that hampered the completion of the solid waste management project, but after they failed to do so, the chief secretary was given the task. The next date of hearing has been fixed for January 16.

Meanwhile, MC officials had asked A2Z to prepare the revised detailed project report (DPR) for the remaining work. The company had demanded funds for construction of a compost plant, for which MC had assured getting it through the Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM). However, now when the DPR has to be revised, the company will have to inquire from the Ministry of Urban Development whether it is possible to avail funds under SBM, as the grant would earlier come under Jawahar Lal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) — a scheme that was closed earlier this year.

An A2Z representatives said they wanted to resolve this issue as soon as possible, but MC officials are counting even tipping fee as grants released for project work. He said they had spent the tipping fee for lifting of garbage, but when it comes to construction of the compost plant, MC should release the funds. However, an MC official claimed that now when the chief secretary had been given the responsibility of sorting out the matter, then they would act according to his directions. He said a joint meeting would be called by the chief secretary where these issues would be tackled.

These issues came up after a petition was filed in the NGT for the entire state that MCs were not tackling solid waste properly. At first, NGT made A2Z a party in the case, but when A2Z blamed MC Ludhiana for not giving them funds, then MC too was made accountable in the case.