BJP lodges complaint with Governor, Lokayukta over garbage tenders in Bengaluru
Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashok on Wednesday lodged a complaint with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and the Karnataka Lokayukta alleging a massive
Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Legislative Assembly R. Ashok on Wednesday lodged a complaint with Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot and the Karnataka Lokayukta alleging a massive scam in the new Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) tenders. He has demanded a probe into the contracts and the circumstances surrounding them, alleging it is a “₹39,000 crore scam with a ₹10,000 crore kickback”. This is the first attack by the opposition BJP since D.K. Shivakumar took charge as Chief Minister. The ISWM tenders were championed by Mr. Shivakumar as Bengaluru Development Minister. Ashok alleged that the tender was brought to the Cabinet and approved just before Siddaramaiah resigned as Chief Minister. He claimed that the tender was allegedly approved under pressure from the “high command,” even as around 10 Ministers protested.
End-to-end contract Contracts for end-to-end SWM collection, processing and disposal for the entire city have been split into two packages — North and South — and the same firm, Delhi MSW Solutions Limited, said to be a subsidiary of Ramky Group, has reportedly bagged it for a period of 30 years, extendable by another five years, totalling about ₹39,000 crore. The company will invest in and build waste-processing parks on land provided by the State government. Ashok alleged that the tipping fee for a ton of waste was presently ₹260, which would go up to ₹2400, 950% more. He pointed out that the Finance Department had raised several objections, including both packages being awarded to the same firm, the 30-year contract tenure and a 5% escalation of the tipping fee every year, which seem to have been overruled.
The Finance Department advised reducing the period to 10 years and the escalation to 2.5%, warning that otherwise it would become a huge burden in the future, he said. However, the present tipping fee is only for collection and transportation of waste and under the new contract, the company should also process the same in waste processing parks they invest and build, an official said. Responding to objections over a 30 year contract, the officer said this was a PPP project where the company will invest and build multiple waste processing parks and the long term of the contract was warranted for the company to recover the same, comparing it with road expressway projects. Ashok, however, said that the consultant RITES Ltd.
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