Corporation to extend private conservancy for 6 more months

“Ramky’s contract ends next month. As the election dates are to be announced anytime, we could not float tenders and issue work orders. So, we have decided to extend the contract by six months,” a Chennai Corporation official said.

The private firm has been carrying out the Conservancy works in the city for more than seven years. Of the total 5,500 tonnes of garbage collected in the city every day, Ramky, on an average collects around 2,000 tonnes in three zones.

It is learnt that the Chennai Corporation has already initiated steps to float fresh tenders after the Lok Sabha elections and has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) for carrying private conservancy in the three zones. “The DPR is much similar to the DPRs prepared for added zones,” the official said.

Meanwhile, the civic body has been scouting for eligible private firms, who could carry out conservancy works in Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram, Ambattur, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones. However, tenders floated in two packages had received poor response, forcing the officials to float re-tenders.

Even though one package containing Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur zones elicited some response, another re-tender has been floated for the other package. “Technical bids were received for Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur package and the bids are under scrutiny,” the official added.

Fearing the loss of jobs, conservancy workers have been opposing the privatisation and urge the civic body to take over conservancy works in Adyar, Teynampet, Kodambakkam. But officials assured that the conservancy workers in added zones would be employed in Anna Nagar, Royapuram, Tondiarpet and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones, which the civic body intends to continue conservancy itself.