The Hindu : 68 agencies chosen for two zones by draw of lots

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 27, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

68 agencies chosen for two zones by draw of lots

By Saptarshi Bhattacharya

CHENNAI MARCH 26. A draw of lots for introducing the `Hyderabad model' of private conservancy operations in areas coming under the Kilpauk and Nungambakkam Corporation Zones was held today at the Ripon Building, but further procedures were suspended in the wake of a court injunction.

(In response to a petition filed by the Madras Corporation Red Flag Union against privatisation of conservancy works, the Madras High Court had ruled that tenders could be opened but no final decision taken until further orders of the court.)

Apart from the Kilpauk and Nungambakkam zones, tenders were floated for certain stretches around the Madras High Court, the Secretariat and the Ripon Buildings. The areas were divided into 68 `packages' and as many agencies were chosen through draw of lots from a total of 137 participants. Most of the participants were involved in conservancy operations in Hyderabad and Bangalore.

Corporation officials said the `Hyderabad model' is going to cost the Corporation Rs. 74 lakhs a month for the 68 stretches. It was a contrast to the Rs. 2.5 crores a month it pays to Onyx for garbage removal in three zones, they said.

Four kilometres of bus route roads or nine kilometres of interior roads formed a package. While on BRRs and the special areas, only night conservancy would be allowed, along interior roads garbage removal would take place during the day.

However, the current model of conservancy did not incorporate provisions of source segregation, which the Corporation had been advocating, however passively, in certain areas of the city. The terms and conditions only speak of sweeping and collecting the garbage and transporting the rubbish to the dump yards. The officials, however, assured that segregation and door-to-door collection would be implemented by the agencies once they begin operations.

"Our first priority is to keep the city clean. Door-to-door collection of garbage and source segregation with the participation of citizens would follow," the officials added.

When asked, S. B. Ahmed, a participant in the tender, who was also involved in conservancy in Hyderabad, said Hyderabad did not follow segregation process. However, the model was effective in keeping the city clean.

While a few aspects were to be revised, the officials said the rates were calculated, including a seven per cent profit margin for the agency.

The deadline set by the Supreme Court for implementation of Municipal Solid Waste Rules expired in December 2002 but the Corporation was yet to start work towards the same.

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