Privatisation of conservancy works likely in a month

The civic body has been in search of suitable bidders for one year after it had released bids inviting firms in September last year. The civic body issued several re-tenders since. “The bids are opened a few days ago and we have received a positive response. The bids are under scrutiny with the tender evaluation committee and the private conservancy in Chennai will start in a month,” a Corporation official said.

The 11 zones are segregated into three packages. Zones such as Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram and Ambattur are placed in one package, while Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur are in another package. As the existing private conservancy in Adyar, Teynampet and Kodambakkam ended, the civic body also invited bids for the three zones too. But the official refused to disclose the number of bids received for the three packages.

The three packages are worth around Rs 4,000 crore and the selected firms would collect and transport garbage for the nexteight years.

However, the conservancy workers in the civic body are opposing the privatisation of conservancy works fearing loss jobs and are conducting several protests. Meanwhile, Arappor Iyakkam also raised the issue and demanded the civic body to cancel the tenders.