Inadequate sanitation services have been a concern for residents for long. And, amid no signs of swift action on renewal of contracts this year, the situation may not improve in the near future too.
The Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has been unable to select sanitation service providers even a month after last year's contract expired on March 31. The civic body had completed the technical bid formalities on April 17 and shortlisted four companies, but a final decision is still awaited. The corporation is still to open financial bids of the four companies.
"The MCG has inducted a tainted company (among the four selected after technical bids) and some councillors raised concerns over the move. This may be one of the reasons behind the delay," said an MCG official on condition of anonymity.
Although the tendering procedure had to be completed in three days after the technical bids, the corporation has postponed it by another week despite a fortnight's delay.
"The financial bids were to be opened today. I have no knowledge of why it has been delayed," said Dr Aruna Sangwan, sanitation in-charge, MCG.
{{/usCountry}}"The financial bids were to be opened today. I have no knowledge of why it has been delayed," said Dr Aruna Sangwan, sanitation in-charge, MCG.
{{/usCountry}}In its 2012 budget, the MCG had assured massive improvement in sanitation jobs. It had plans to double the number of safai karamcharis from 1,500 to nearly 3000, introduce sweeping machines, choose qualified bidders and use proper sanitation vehicles such as trolleys, tractors and dumpers.
To add to the woes of residents, cleanliness in many localities has been adversely affected in the absence of an adequate workforce.
"The garbage dumps lie unattended for days. Compared to the days before March 31 (when the sanitation contracts expired), the number of men at work has dropped drastically. The quality of services was already not satisfactory to begin with," alleged DC Yadav, a resident of Laxman Vihar, which comes under the MCG.