The Municipal Corporation (MC) is set to engage a private firm to process the third massive garbage dump at the Dadu Majra landfill, with the project estimated to cost ₹12 crore. The proposal will be discussed during the MC General House meeting scheduled for tomorrow.
According to the meeting agenda, MC officials have stressed the urgency of clearing the landfill as per directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which have mandated time-bound disposal of the waste. The MC has also assured the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs that the third dump will be cleared by July, subject to weather conditions.
Two private firms have shown interest in executing the bio-mining process for waste removal. Once the General House approves the proposal, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed with the selected firm to commence the project. The funding will come from solid waste management funds earmarked under NGT directives.
Proposed Electricity Cess Hike
The MC, under Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla, is also set to revisit a proposal to increase the electricity cess in tomorrow’s meeting. The civic body currently levies a municipal cess of 10 paise per unit on electricity consumption, generating an annual revenue of ₹15-16 crore. Due to financial constraints, the MC is considering raising the cess to 16 paise per unit, aligning it with Punjab’s rates. This move is expected to increase revenue to ₹22-23 crore per annum.
According to the agenda, Punjab charges a municipal tax of 2% on electricity consumption, translating to approximately 16 paise per unit, while Haryana levies 8 paise per unit.
However, the proposal has previously faced opposition from the AAP and Congress. Both parties, in their Lok Sabha election manifestos, had promised 20,000 litres of free water per household per month, 300 units of free electricity for families earning below ₹20,000 per month, and no new taxes. With the opposition likely to resist the move again, tomorrow’s General House meeting is expected to witness a heated debate over balancing the financial burden on residents against the MC’s need for additional revenue.
Solid Waste Management Plant Proposal
The General House will also decide on selecting a private firm for an integrated solid waste management plant at Dadu Majra. Initially approved in July 2023, the project aims to handle Chandigarh’s daily waste generation of approximately 550 metric tonnes (MT). The proposed facility will have a capacity of 600 MT per day and will be built over 20 acres, featuring three specialized waste-processing units for dry, wet, and horticultural waste.
The project is planned for a 17-year period, with two years allotted for construction and 15 years for operation and maintenance. During the most recent financial bidding held on January 7, M/s Hindustan Waste Treatment Private Limited, in partnership with M/s SFC Environmental Technologies Private Limited, Navi Mumbai, submitted the lowest bid. The General House will now finalize the selection process for the project.
Green Initiative at the Dumping Ground
In a separate initiative, the Finance and Contract Committee has approved a project worth ₹32.90 lakh for planting trees and shrubs at the Dadu Majra landfill site. The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Mayor Harpreet Kaur Babla and attended by MC Commissioner Amit Kumar, along with other members, including Saurabh Joshi, Poonam, and Suman Devi.
These proposals mark a significant step towards tackling Chandigarh’s growing waste management issues and improving environmental sustainability.
