VERY SOON city will see MNCs jostling with local contractors to bag clean-up work from the LMC. The corporation has already dispatched letters to the MNCs from Columbia, Australia and the USA to participate in the tenders scheduled between May 18 and 28.
These companies have evinced interest in segregating waste, cleaning and brooming of roads, clean the drains lesser than 65 cm in diameter, lift the silt from drain, cut grasses and bushes, dispose of animal carcasses.
The response came from the MNCs to the Lucknow Municipal Corporation’s decision to privatize the cleaning operations of 29 wards in the city. For the first time LMC has decided to call tenders for so many wards between May 18 and 28.
Municipal commissioner VP Singh said the cleaning work would be awarded in the transparent manner. Preference would be given to experienced companies.
“We want the city to have international-class cleaning experience. That’s why the LMC has written to MNCs to participate in the global bid for 29 wards. These companies are carrying out the cleaning operations in many cities and have international class equipment and expertise to keep the city clean,” said Singh.
“Those opposing the privatization of safai operation must remember that we have always maintained cleaning operations of 110 wards with limited number of safai workers in the city,” he said, and added, “Every one knows due to limited financial resources, the LMC is not in a position to provide safai workers in every ward.”
{{/usCountry}}“Those opposing the privatization of safai operation must remember that we have always maintained cleaning operations of 110 wards with limited number of safai workers in the city,” he said, and added, “Every one knows due to limited financial resources, the LMC is not in a position to provide safai workers in every ward.”
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, the safai workers are up in arms against the decision of privatization of cleaning operations in the city. They have decided to react against the privatization process in a democratic way.
“We will not tolerate the exploitation of safai workers by the private companies and contractors,” said leader of safai workers Durgesh Valmiki.
To pacify angry safai workers, the LMC has also decided to appoint 700 contractual safai workers in the city.
The wards which have been selected for privatisation are Shaheed Bhagat Singh ward, Rajiv Gandhi ward, Indira Priyadarshini ward, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai, Maithili Sharan Gupta, Babu Jagjivan Ram, Ismailganj, Gomti Nagar, Lal Bahadur Shashtri, Indira Nagar, Babu Kunj Behari, Ramji Lal Nagar, Geetapalli, OM Nagar, Guru Nanak Nagar, Kesari Khera, Sardar Patel, Alam Nagar, Chitragupta Nagar, Ibrahim Puri, Kharika, Raja Bijli Pasi, Sarojini Nagar, Guru Govind Singh, Sharda Nagar, Vidyawati, Hind Nagar and Jai Prakash Nagar ward.