Ambala MC to refloat trash collection tender on January 15

AMBALA: The municipal corporation of Ambala will be refloating its door-to-door garbage collection tender on January 15. As of now, the cash-starved MC has failed to bag interest of even a single contractor. This disinterest in MC's work could prove to be an eye-opener for the body that is yet to release the salaries of it permanent and contractual employees.

At this point in time when garbage collection services stand annulled, Ambala MC's tall claims of fetching three-star rating in Swachhta Survekshan 2019 sound both interesting and unrealistic.

"Door-to-door garbage collection services have remained suspended for the last three months. The contractual drivers have not received their salaries for the last seven months. Similarly, clerical staff is yet to be paid for the last four months. Permanent and temporary staff were last paid in November," said Sewa Ram, a safai karamchari sangh leader.

Ambala MC has nearly 1,072 sanitation workers - permanent and temporary - to sanitise Ambala City and Sadar Zone. At present, garbage is being lifted from just a few areas of Ambala City.

As per sources, the MC is under severe fund crunch and contractors are ignoring MC's work as they fear not being paid. The sources revealed that a few months ago, the civic body released payments to the tune of Rs 55 lakh against bills of Rs 8 crore.

"We would refloat the tender on January 15. This time, we are expecting applications as we have changed some norms. Earlier, separate contractors were supposed to collect garbage and dispose it at Patvi plant, however now, the same contractor would be asked to complete the aforementioned task," said MC joint commissioner Satinder Siwatch. He added that the MC would try to clear payments till November 2018.