Date:26/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/26/stories/2008112659280400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Neel Metal to take over waste disposal in parts of Ambattur

Staff Reporter

The letter confirming the award of contract was handed over to the company

— Photo: K.Pichumani

Changeover: Ambattur municipality chairman K.N.Sekar (second from left) hands over the letter confirming award of contract to Neel Metal Fanalca’s director (operations) William Bendeck at the municipality office on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: Neel Metal Fanalca, private firm in charge of garbage clearance in some parts of the city, will soon take over the responsibility of waste disposal in parts of Ambattur Municipality. The contract letter was handed over to Neel Metal Fanalca’s director (operations) William Bendeck at the municipality office on Tuesday.

Ambattur’s Municipal Commissioner V. Chakrapani said that with the contract of Swachatha Corporation engaged in garbage clearance in 19 wards of Ambattur coming to an end, bids were invited three months ago. A high-level committee, appointed by the Commissionerate of Municipal Administration, scrutinised the bids.

Of the two firms shortlisted, Neel Metal Fanalca’s bid of Rs.1,120 to clear one tonne of garbage was lower than that of Swachatha Corporation. Municipal Health Officer T. Senthil Kumar said measures were being taken to level the garbage piled up to a height of nearly 40 feet in the Athipattu dumping yard. It would take 45 days for the new private contractor to start work. A detailed project report is being prepared about means of solid waste management in a compost yard to be set up at Kuthambakkam. It would take about two years to establish the compost yard.

At the council meeting of the Municipality on Tuesday, councillors cutting across partylines demanded at least a partial rollback in the property tax. The municipality had increased the levy by 25 per cent in April for households and up to 150 per cent for commercial establishments. Municipal chairman K.N. Sekar said that a meeting of the tax appeal committee would be held on Thursday. The recommendations would be sent to the government after getting the council’s approval. The council approved handing over the operation and maintenance of the gasifier crematorium on Vanagaram-Athipattu Road to Vaikundam Trust.