Sucked into a whirlpool of despair neither the Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) nor the Essel Infra has been successful in finding out a solution for proper solid waste management.
The residents of the State Capital may have to wait for long for getting proper service when it comes to solid waste disposal as the company roped in for the service is finding it difficult to manage the wards as per the commitment made by it earlier.
Essel Infra, General Manager (GM), Arun Kumar Singh said that financial constrains and incomplete documentation work are two major hurdles in taking the project ahead.
“The company, so far has frittered Rs 2 crore extra in maintaining vehicles and in making payment to staffs. Besides, a major clause in document is yet to be signed. The RMC is yet to declare the date of the work since the company has taken up the charge. The company has been just paid Rs 50 lakh now,” said the GM.
Even till date, work on mini transfer stations is yet to get complete. However, assuring that everything is lined up and even the land issues have been resolved for setting up the mini transfer stations at different wards, Singh further added, “Now in the city total 13 mini transfer stations will be setup. Out of 13, four transfer stations are ready and are being operated while six transfer stations work is under construction. Work at Nagababa Khatal, Madhukam, Karbala Chowk, ITI, HEC is almost complete. lands have been identified near Indira Palace, Hinoo and Bariatu for setting up transfer stations.”
Notably, the company has charged Rs 2.50 crore from the Municipal Corporation for the service that was initiated from October 2016. After the account row, that surfaced in January and was later resolved, the company is waiting for its full payment.
Having engaged approximately 400 labourers and 95 mini vehicles for managing solid waste disposal, the company GM has said that the work of all the 55 wards can be taken only by June 2017.
Even after the recent rebuke of Urban Development Minister CP Singh, who was infuriated to witness the condition of garbage disposal that are heedlessly scattered along the roads, the Civic body, which is managing the work of rest 23 wards for the time being, too seemed clueless at this moment.
Passing the buck, RMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner Rakesh Kumar said that the Corporation is managing the work of garbage handling even in limited resources. “Since at times due to labour crunch, it is difficult to collect garbage during late night hours, hence sometime the problem arises,” he added.
Having termed the Municipal Corporation merely a ‘holding tax collection agency’, the Minister has assured that the matter is being constantly monitored and reviewed.
He has asked the department officials to consult Essel Infra Officer-In-Charge to know about their work progress as city residents are neither satisfied by RMC garbage collection procedure nor by Essel Infra service.