Corporation moots Rs 1,545 crore plan to privatise conservancy works

According to sources in Chennai Corporation, request for proposals have been floated in two packages – one consisting of Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram and Ambattur zones, and the other that has Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones. 

The total project cost of the privatisation of the conservancy works is more than Rs 1,545 crores – Rs 744.79 crore for the first package and Rs 801.20 crore for the other.

The private contractor should collect and transport solid waste and horticulture waste, and collect and store domestic hazardous waste. The civic body would allow the bidders to access Corporation data and details of movable properties before drafting action plans.

Meanwhile, the federation of unions against privatisation in Greater Chennai Corporation staged a protest for nearly three hours on Thursday morning condemning civic body over this. “Disregarding our demands, the Corporation has been privatising various works,” charged P Srinivasalu, general secretary of the Red Flag union in the Corporation.

Noting that the conservancy contract for Kodambakkam, Teynampet and Adyar would cease in the coming March, Srinivasalu added, “The civic body should not renew the contract.”

However, the civic officials said private participation was indispensable when considering the future. “All the zones selected for the privatisation are newly added. Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) are essential to address and mitigate the sanitary issues of the developing parts of the city,” an official said.

Chennai Corporation data say that the civic body has been collecting 5,000 tonnes of solid waste every day. The civic body had already envisaged multi-crore solid waste management plan that envisages 70 per cent privatisation of conservancy works.