In a significant case of civic planning failure, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has finally decided to put two expensive waste management machines into regular use after they remained largely idle for more than a year and a half. The machines, purchased under the Solid Waste Environment Exigency Programme (SWEEP), represent a substantial investment of public funds that yielded no operational benefits for an extended period.
The Costly Idle Period of Jatayu Machines
The two vehicle-mounted Jatayu machines, acquired for suction of both dry and wet waste, were bought at a cost of approximately Rs 1 crore. Despite this significant expenditure, they saw minimal use by MCG's own sanitation staff for over 18 months. This prolonged inactivity raised serious questions about the planning process and accountability within the civic body regarding the procurement of specialized equipment.
A former MCG official sharply criticized the purchase, calling the machines "white elephants." He pointedly asked why the machines were bought with taxpayers' money if the civic body's own staff lacked the training to operate them effectively. This period of non-utilization highlights a gap between procurement and implementation in Gurgaon's waste management strategy.
Privatization as the New Solution
In a recent turn of events, MCG has chosen to hand over the operation and maintenance of these machines to a private agency. The estimated cost for this contract is Rs 1.3 crore, covering fuel, drivers, helpers, and other operational expenses. This decision effectively means the public will pay an additional premium to get the originally purchased machines to work.
An MCG official confirmed that the tender process has been initiated to hire the private agency. The contract will be valid for two years initially, with a provision to extend it by another two years based on the agency's performance. Officials stated that the machines were only used occasionally by sanitation staff previously, and the private agency is being hired specifically to ensure their proper and regular use.
The SWEEP Programme and Waste Exigency
The backdrop to this procurement is the state government's declaration of a municipal solid waste exigency in Gurgaon on June 12, 2024. This declaration was made using powers under Section 22 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005. Following this, a committee was formed to oversee SWEEP's implementation.
The committee's mandate was to establish a comprehensive three-tier waste management system for the city. This system was designed to cover all stages: collection, segregation, transportation, processing, and final disposal. The two Jatayu machines were among several pieces of equipment procured under this ambitious programme aimed at tackling Gurgaon's persistent waste management challenges.
The situation underscores a recurring issue in urban governance where high-cost assets fail to become operational due to a lack of trained manpower or clear operational plans. The move to privatize operations, while potentially solving the immediate problem of underuse, also shifts ongoing costs to the public purse and raises questions about the initial procurement rationale. The effectiveness of this new arrangement under the SWEEP programme remains to be seen as Gurgaon continues its battle against municipal solid waste.
