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Ludhiana MC starts process to buy 4 mechanical sweeping machines
The mechanical sweeping machines will be purchased at an estimated cost of ₹4.5 crore, including operations and maintenance for five years. Ludhiana MC had stopped mechanical sweeping in the city in 2018
Replacing the idea of outsourcing mechanical sweeping which was expensive, the Municipal Corporation (MC) is working to purchase four mechanical sweeping machines with Swachh Bharat Mission funds. The machines will be purchased at an estimated cost of ₹4.5 crore, including operations and maintenance for five years.
One machine has already been purchased by MC at a cost of around ₹1 crore (including operations and maintenance for a certain period) under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and it is used to clean different areas falling under Zone D of the MC, including Pakhowal road, Sarabha Nagar etc.
The MC had stopped mechanical sweeping in the city in 2018 as it was outsourced at that time and the MC had to pay around ₹1 lakh per km every month. Questions were raised by the opposition parties about hefty payments being made to the outsourcing contractor and it was proposed that the MC should purchase its own machines.
Various departments, including Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), had recommended mechanical sweeping to the MC in the past as manual sweeping results in emission of dust particles in the air.
After this, the MC had planned to purchase the machines under the NCAP and trials were also held for the same in Sarabha Nagar market last year. As the MC was facing a shortage of funds under the NCAP, it has now been decided to purchase the machines under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
The introduction of mechanical sweeping in the city is also expected to improve the rank of the city in the Swachh Survekshan (national cleanliness survey).
MC executive engineer Balwinder Singh stated that the tenders have been floated to purchase machinery and a few bidders have also submitted their respective bids. Operations and maintenance of the machines will also be handed over to the contractor for five years under this project.
