MC refloats 1,144cr waste mgmt tender amid protests

Ludhiana Undeterred by a previous lack of bidder interest and mounting local opposition, the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation (MC) has officially refloated the tenders for its ambitious integrated solid waste management project. The initiative, valued at Rs 1,144 crore, seeks to overhaul the collection, transportation, and processing of approximately 1,084 tonnes of waste daily over an eight-year contract period.The move comes as a direct response to the failure of previous attempts to attract contractors. MC executive engineer Arvind Kumar confirmed that despite the lack of response in earlier rounds, the civic body is proceeding following formal approval from the House in its latest meeting. "We are hopeful we will find a response this time," Kumar stated, noting that the core conditions of the tender remain largely unchanged.
Private collection conflictAt the heart of the project is the plan to hand over door-to-door collection to a private concessionaire. This specific clause has triggered sustained protests from existing private garbage collectors, who fear for their livelihoods. While the MC has offered assurances that collectors could find employment within the new system, union members have remained firm, demanding that household collection stay out of private hands.