PMC to hire private body to improve ‘swachh’ ranking

PUNE: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has yet again floated the tender to appoint a consultant for Swachh Survekshan 2020. Last year, the civic body had appointed the consultant after showing readiness to shell out Rs 34 lakh. Despite that, the civic body’s rank was dropped from 13th (in 2017) to 37th (in 2018). Knowing about the tender being floated by the civic body, the civic activists have raised strong objection on such appointment. 

Stating that the civic officials get hefty salary should be considered competent enough to do the paperwork required for the survey, civic activist Vivek Velankar said, “Corporation should not hire a private agency for Survekshan. Last year, PMC had hired an agency to help them carry out evaluation work, distribution, management work related to solid waste.” Velankar  announced that the appointment of such consultant leads to wastage of taxpayers’ money.” 

Apart from appointing a private agency, civic body even made it mandatory to each corporation official to submit feedback, the city’s rank dropped to another low. 

However, after getting low rank, the civic body paid only Rs 18 lakh to KPMC, the consultancy firm, instead of paying the full amount of Rs 34 lakh.

Now, PMC’s Solid Waste Department has floated a tender inviting consultancy firm to carry out documentation of Survekshan. The tender was floated during the Model Code of Conduct but as the corporation did not get a response, the time limit has been extended. 

While speaking to Sakal Times, Joint Municipal Commissioner of PMC’s Solid Waste management, Dnyaneshwar Molak said, “Corporation does not have the expertise to prepare documentation as per the Central Government’s requirements. We have to take help from the private agency. So, we floated tender.”

He further said, “ We cannot stop last year’s consultancy firm KPMC from taking part in the tender process as we have not blacklisted them. We will take an appropriate decision if KPMC participates in the tender process.”

On the condition of anonymity, one of the senior officials said, “Corporation is not satisfied with KPMC work. So, we will not hire KPMC this year even if the agency participates in the tendering process.”