Urban News

The Hindu  16.11.2010

SHGs temporarily in charge of garbage clearance in Bidar district

Staff Correspondent

Bidar: The Bidar City Municipal Council (CMC) has accepted the demands of self-help groups (SHGs) and has decided to let them handle garbage clearance until further orders. This, however, is a temporary arrangement, say CMC officials.

The CMC had cancelled the contracts issued to SHGs after some CMC members complained that they were not working properly. A resolution was passed in the CMC's last general body meeting that the tenders for door-to-door garbage collection and cleaning of drains should be given to private contractors. The SHG members were thrown out of jobs and started putting pressure on CMC to withdraw the resolution.

However, even after two months, the CMC failed to finalise a draft contract that could be used to invite tenders. This affected garbage collection in the city. Drains remained clogged and roads were not swept on time.

Bidar, which had been rated the 22nd cleanest city in the country by the Centre's Urban Development Department, began to slowly slip down from that place.

Now, the CMC has drafted rules that guide household garbage collection, sweeping of roads and cleaning of drains. “We are sending the drafts to the State Government this week. We hope the Urban Development Department officials will approve it soon,” CMC sources said.

“In the draft, we have separated door -to -door collection of garbage from cleaning of drains and solid waste management. Though we will award the tenders of cleaning drains and solid waste management to private parties, we will retain the SHGs in charge of door-to-door collection,” the sources said.

“However, SHGs will continue to look after all these operations till the draft rules are approved and new contracts are awarded,” a senior officer said.

Deputy Commissioner Sameer Shukla said he had noticed that garbage clearance was disturbed from the day SHGs were asked to go. “CMC officials have told me that SHGs will be put back in charge of the operations from Monday,” he said.

He said the draft rules were modelled on the solid waste management rules adopted by the Mangalore city corporation.

Mr. Shukla chaired a meeting of CMC officials that finalised the draft rules.

The Pioneer  16.11.2010

Parvaiz Sultan | New Delhi

Fate of Municipal Corporation of Delhi’s ambitious plan of constructing high-end toilets across the Capital hangs in balance as the civic body is determined not to go ahead with the project without making certain amendments in the terms and conditions of the contract.

According to sources, the corporation is not pleased with the way concessionaire companies have breached the conditions of the agreement and it also wants certain modification in that.

“They (concessionaire companies) have clearly violated the provisions of the contract. At some locations, they have encroached upon and constructed Sewage Treatment Plant outside while it had to be within the area, which was allotted to them. At some sites, they have added additional floors for restaurant, which is violation of the agreement,” he said.

He further added the deliberative wing has not agreed to allow them to continue for 30 years and it has also been decided to increase the amount of the bid as well. “The bidding amount should also be increased from Rs 12 crore. The modification will enable the MCD to earn more revenue,” he added.

Sources added the MCD also wants it should have power to take stern action without giving notice against the company if any violation of the contract is found in future. “Nine such high-end toilets have been completed and a committee looking into the matter has also visited the sites. But, it has been decided not go ahead with the old terms and conditions,” he said.

The much talked about project was to be completed before the Commonwealth Games and total 216 such public conveniences of international standard were supposed to be constructed in various markets and commercial areas.

Following the initial technical bid, the MCD handed over 28 sites to successful bidders to build prototype toilet-cum-café, out of which, one was to be chosen for final ones. But only nine such facilities could be completed so far because other companies pulled out themselves from the project.

The project hit the road block after several Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) and market associations raised objections over tawdry design and sites chosen for such toilet complexes. Following the intervention of Lieutenant Governor, the project was halted temporarily; a committee was formed to look into the matter. The report of the committee is still awaited.

When asked, member of that committee and Leader of the House in the MCD Subhash Arya refused to comment and said, “The report of the committee will be handed over to the Delhi Mayor and the decision in this regard will be taken thereafter within two-three days,” said the BJP leader.

The locations, where such state-of-the-art public conveniences are prepared are Defence Colony, Kailash Colony, near Moolchand Flyover, Chittaranjan Park, Model Town, Community Centre, East of Kailash, Nehru Place and Greater Kailash M & N block market.