The Times of India            30.10.2013 

Law department to study Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation's garbage tender rate

NAVI MUMBAI: The state government's law department is scrutinising the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation's (NMMC) tender rate for disposing garbage. The civic body has stuck to the rate of Rs 1,503.75 per tonne as approved by the civic general body against the government recommendation of Rs 1,233 per tonne. The civic body sources said, "Our rates are more as we are following the equal pay for equal work policy, while the state government has worked out the rates as per minimum wages.''

The average daily generation of garbage is around 600 metric tonne (MT) that increases by some 60 MT daily during the festive season. "We are hopeful of a decision after Diwali,'' said a civic official. The state government intervened when Congress corporator Dashrath Bhagat objected to the NMMC rate of garbage disposal and alluded to corrupt practices.

City mayor Sagar Naik said, "Our rate has been vetted by all India institute of local bodies, a semi-government body that calculated the cost after factoring in diesel cost and other expenses. There is no corruption, as alleged. We are confident of our rates being accepted.''The institute, a semi-government body calculated the cost after factoring in increase in diesel cost and other expenses.

Meanwhile, the civic body has 110 vehicles at its disposal provided by local contractors for each of the wards and clearing garbage is often extended beyond evening hours.