Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has confirmed construction and demolition (C&D) waste and debris of stones, mud at the garbage transfer station of one of the two garbage operators — AG Enviro Infra Projects Private Ltd.
The civic body has also admitted to the operator dumping garbage on the ground by violating the terms and conditions of the contract.
On April 18, TOI had reported how AG Enviro continued to mix stones, mud and C&D waste in garbage in violation of the contract’s norms, causing financial loss and cheating NMC.
Violation and causing pollution by dumping garbage on the ground instead of transferring it from small vehicles to big ones was also reported.
NMC deputy commissioner and director of the solid waste management department Dr Gajendra Mahalle visited the garbage transfer station of AG Enviro at Sahakar Nagar and issued a show cause notice (dated April 18) to the operator asking why action should not be taken against the company for the violations.
Mahalle has given the operator a deadline of 48 hours to reply. In reference to TOI’s reports, Mahalle said, “The inspection revealed the presence of C&D waste and also debris of stones and mud at the garbage transfer station, a clear violation of the contract. Huge quantity of stones, mud and C&D waste raises suspicion that the material was brought to the garbage transfer station for mixing with garbage and transportation to the Bhandewadi dumping yard. On June 28, 2020, it was proved that garbage was mixed with stones and mud and transported to the dumping yard. A fine of Rs 27,11,103 was recovered. Also, a warning was issued to terminate the contract if violations continued.”
Mahalle said the notice was for violation of the contract. “Garbage has to be transferred from small vehicles to heavy vehicles without putting it on the ground. It was observed that terms and conditions of the contract were violated intentionally,” he said.
West Nagpur MLA Vikas Thakre and Shiv Sena leader Nitin Tiwari want the NMC to register an offence against the operator and termination of the contract.
Following the expose by Thakre and Tiwari coupled with poor service and complaints from other public representatives, the NMC general body had conducted an inquiry which revealed irregularities and violations by AG Enviro and another operator — Pune-based BVG India.
On January 30, the general body had passed a resolution to terminate the contracts of the two operators. Directives were issued to the administration to consult a senior counsel and start the process of termination followed by a tender process to appoint a new operator parallelly.
The general body had fixed a deadline of three months for appointment of a new operator. “The resolution was sent to the NMC’s legal department. We are yet to get a reply for the further course of action,” said NMC officials.
Only ten days are remaining for the deadline to end which means the NMC administration is likely to over rule the decision of the general body.
