This story is from July 9, 2020

Disputed garbage bio-mining tender set to be scrapped

Disputed garbage bio-mining tender set to be scrapped
Nagpur: Considered a big reason for the complaints by Union minister Nitin Gadkari and mayor Sandip Joshi against municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe, the tender for bio-mining of garbage at Bhandewadi dumping yard is all set to be scrapped, because of technical problems. Both the signatory officials, who signed on the tender, have been sacked by Mundhe.
The board of directors (BoD) of Smart City Project’s special purpose vehicle — Nagpur Smart and Sustainable City Development Corporation Limited (NSSCDCL) is likely to decide the fate of the tender in its meeting on Friday.
It could continue the project with fresh tender or go with earlier project for developing five garbage transfer stations, or take any other decision.
Tender for bio-mining of garbage costing Rs40 crore was floated when Devendra Mahajan was general manager (environment) and Uday Ghiye was general manager (infrastructure) in NSSCDCL. The two officials were signatory authority of the tender. In the capacity of chief executive officer (CEO) Mundhe has terminated Mahajan and Ghiye.
Sources from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and NSSCDCL told TOI, “NSSCDCL sought legal opinion, and technical opinion from state government-run Maha IT, which looks after online tendering process. The two opinions suggested the tender cannot be continued further.”
Mundhe had said recently, “Tender is yet to be completed. I will table the project in BoD meeting.”
As part of city’s Smart City Project of Rs3,577.77 crore, the centre had approved smart solutions for Solid Waste Management (Rs148.77 crore). NSSCDCL BoD had decided to spend Rs40 crore on five garbage transfer stations. After assuming charge as CEO, Mundhe directed officials to scrap the tender and instead float tender for bio mining of garbage at Bhandewadi dumping yard. TOI reported the decision on February 19.

At that time Mundhe said, “New garbage operators have to transfer garbage to dumping yard themselves. Instead, garbage at yard needs to be treated to prevent pollution and vacate plot of land.”
Four months later, on June 22, Joshi and ruling party leader Sandip Jadhav had lodged a complaint against Mundhe at Sadar police station, alleging the civic chief had no power to scrap the tender approved by BoD. Alleging he was not a valid CEO, the two also levelled other allegations, but the Rs40 crore tender for garbage transfer stations was the major reason.
Chairman at BoD meet via video link
The NSSCDCL BoD meeting on Friday is likely to decide the fate of allegations levelled by Union minister Nitin Gadkari and mayor Sandip Joshi against municipal commissioner Tukaram Mundhe. The board will also decide whether Mundhe will continue as CEO or not. Directors from the city will be attending in person, but chairman Pravin Pardeshi and a central government representative from New Delhi will reportedly participate through video conferencing.
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About the Author
Anjaya Anparthi

Anjaya Rajam Anparthi, 33, is a principal correspondent with The Times of India, Nagpur edition and looking after civic beat. He also likes to write stories from power and mining beats. He is a fond lover of city’s environment and highlight stories related to trees, greenery, rivers, lakes, sewage system, water treatment plants, and pollution-level. The issues related to civic amenities takes him to various parts of the city, slum areas, posh localities and meet citizens, social activists, NGOs, corporators and political leaders. Daylong visit to the NMC’s administrative offices makes him easy in learning various planning and developments of the city. He too likes to visit the developmental projects being undertaken under JNNURM Scheme once in a week. Maintaining a good contact with 145 corporators and officials, he like to highlight various issues related to the city spread in over 217 sq.km.

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