Cuttack's waste disposal runs into legal hurdles

CUTTACK: The  Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) landed in trouble after a Hyderabad-based Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited stopped garbage collection and disposal work from April 1.The corporation had roped in Ramky for a period of five years and the contract expired in April 2016. Even after that CMC continued with the agency on monthly payment basis owing to delay in signing contract with another agency for implementation of Solid Waste Management project.The agency had been urging the civic body to release it from the job as its equipment had worn out.

After its pleas fell on deaf ears, the agency stopped work from April 1 citing its inability to continue. Sources said, CMC has made an interim arrangement by roping in BBG Agency to carry out waste collection and disposal. "We have chosen the agency with the municipal council's approval as it is a local organisation through which Ramky was executing the work," said CMC Commissioner Bikash Mohapatra. 

According to Mohapatra, after expiry of Ramky's contract in 2016, reorganisation of sanitation work was planned through implementation of Solid Waste Management Project in the new five-year contract for garbage collection and disposal. But, the civic body failed to complete the tender process due to legal huddles. "The tender process for implementation of the project was started in August 2016. But, Orissa High Court quashed it and directed it to invite fresh bids in July 2017 following which the civic body invited fresh bids in September 2017," Mohapatra said.

After a private party emerged as the lowest bidder for the `147.26 crore project, the tender was finalised on December 15 and CMC sent it to the Government for approval. But, the whole process again got stalled with the High Court, acting on a petition, issuing a stay order on February 12. The case is pending and the matter has been fixed for hearing on April 12, Mohapatra informed.