Kanak contract ends Feb 15, garbage collection may stop

Nagpur: With Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) failing to appoint a new garbage collection firm, existing operator Kanak Resources Management Limited (KRML) may stop lifting door-to-door garbage when its contract ends on February 15.
A senior official of NMC’s solid waste management department told TOI that the civic body has already approached Kanak Resources with a request to continue services for one more month.

Sources in KRML confirmed the development, and clarified that it has not yet decided whether to continue after February 15. The decision will be taken in an internal meeting soon, sources said.

The officer pointed out that if Kanak agrees to their request, the health department would submit an extension proposal before the standing committee for its nod. The officer said the civic chief has already given his consent to this.

NMC had issued work order to KRML in 2008 for 10 years, and its tenure ended on June 31 last year. However, NMC had asked the operator to work till February 15.

Currently, the city generates around 1,200 metric tonnes of garbage per day and NMC pays KRML Rs1,306 per metric tonne.

To ensure better management of solid waste, this time NMC had taken help of a consultant to prepare request for proposal (RFP) for new garbage operator. While preparing the RFP, NMC has followed Indore pattern of solid waste management system. NMC has submitted the RFP to Mumbai-based All India Institute of Local Self Government (AIILSG) for its nod.

As per government directives, AIILSG nod is a must. The institute will decide weight on RFP based on micro planning from engagement of vehicles and their types, door-to-door collection, commercial and market areas etc. After AIILSG’s green flag, NMC will start the process to invite tenders. However, sources said, the process will take at least six more months. Instead of giving extension now, NMC should have started the process early, sources pointed out.

Officials said the city’s population and areas have increased manifold. The existing solid waste management is falling short, he admitted. So to overcome it, this time NMC is planning to appoint at least two agencies for better waste management system, said the official.

The officer admitted the present contractor is doing a commendable job in door-to-door garbage collection, however, the existing waste management system has wide scope for improvement. Currently, NMC through KRML is only focusing on lifting of door-to-door garbage collection, and not stressing on segregated waste.

Actually, it was one of the prime conditions of the agreement between KRML and NMC that waste would be collected by segregated method only. But nothing has happened due to casual approach of NMC, said sources.