2 years on, MC yet to buy compactors for solid waste

Ludhiana: Even almost two years after claiming that compactors will be installed at various locations in the city, the municipal corporation (MC) is yet to move ahead with their purchase under the Smart City mission.
Earlier, they had wasted time in various formalities and now when the tenders were floated, they did not receive even a single response in the attempt. The officials claimed they have floated tenders again. In the absence of compactors, the solid waste is being dumped in open at secondary garbage collection points.
The major issue which is coming in the way is poor response by the contractors. The officials claimed that estimates were prepared two years back but now due to inflation, the rates are quite higher. So they might have to revise the estimates as contractors are not willing to work at this rates.
The civil structures are constructed at some of the locations while at other locations too, the work is going on. The officials are waiting for the approval from the board of directors of the Smart City mission.
It was in the month of June that the city-level technical committee of Ludhiana Smart City Mission had given a nod to float request for proposal to purchase compactor machines for 22 secondary garbage collection points.
Earlier, its detailed project report also took a long time to get the clearance. Since machinery has not arrived, the garbage is still being dumped in the open.
An official, requesting anonymity, said, “There is no delay at our end as we had floated tenders, but nobody showed response. So now, we have floated tenders again. We are hoping to get response this time.”
Some of the proposed sites for compactors through MC included Peeru Banda, Karabara Basti near petrol pump, Saroop Nagar near GT Road, backside of dental CMC College, books market, civil hospital Field Ganj, Mundian Kalan, Mushtaq Ganj, old courts and bus stand flyover.
Notably, the national green tribunal monitoring committee members had also visited some of the dumps and it showed utter failure on the part of officials.
Existing compactors in shambles
At some of the locations, the MC got the compactors installed through Ludhiana Improvement Trust but instead of providing any relief in solid waste management, these have proved a little useful.
The heaps of garbage are still dumped outside the collection point.
Now, it will be seen when MC will be able to install more compactors under Smart City mission and how they will ensure there will be no such issue in handling the waste there.