‘Non-payment of contractors’ hampers door-to-door waste collection service in Lucknow
People aware of the development told HT that contractors working with the waste removal department are not willing to take on the work as they have not been paid.
Lucknow Door-to-door garbage collection services have been hit across the city even as the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) has taken the responsibility of waste collection and disposal from the ousted Chinese firm Ecogreen. People aware of the development told HT that contractors working with the waste removal department are not willing to take on the work as they have not been paid.
“The waste collectors are not turning up,” said Alambagh-resident Jasbeer Singh. Echoing a similar concern, Aliganj-resident Saurabh Bhargava said, “Piles of waste can be seen near every crossing in the city.”
Speaking on the issue, Samajwadi Party corporator Sayyed Yawar Hussain Reshu said, “The municipal commissioner only makes tall claims but he has failed to find solutions to the problems. Officials don’t even pick up the phone. The non-payment of dues to honest contractors is another major issue. They are refusing to work because their payments are not made on time. Only a few selected contractors are getting timely payments. The honest ones are made to run from pillar-to-post.”
The SP leader added, “Despite making several rounds, some of the contractors of the rubbish removal department have not received their payment. On the other hand, firms being investigated by the Economic Offences Wing have been paid by the officials. Such anomalies are unprecedented.”
Another corporator Girish Mishra said, “There is no transparency in the payment system of contractors. If the system doesn’t improve, fingers would be pointed towards the officials handling the work. Also, officials should pick up phones, and remain in the field to check whether waste is picked up from homes and streets.”
While environment engineer Sanjeev Pradhan refused to comment over the issue, additional municipal commissioner Pankaj Singh said, “The waste collection work is getting streamlined. The decision on Ecogreen would be taken soon.”
