The Ludhiana Municipal Corporation's ambitious plan to privatize the city's entire solid waste management system has hit a major roadblock, forcing the civic body to push the final decision to the state government. The plan, estimated to cost Rs 1,144 crore over eight years, faces vehement opposition from the informal sector currently handling door-to-door garbage collection.
Plan Details and the Roadblock
The Municipal Corporation (MC) had decided to hire a private firm through a public-private partnership (PPP) model for an integrated solid waste management program. This contract was designed to cover all aspects—collection, transportation, processing, and final disposal of municipal solid waste. A request for proposal was floated, but the project met with immediate and strong resistance.
The primary opposition came from the informal sector workers and their unions, who are deeply involved in the current door-to-door garbage collection system. They have protested consistently, arguing that the privatization move would threaten their livelihoods and force them to work under a private company. MC Commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal confirmed that a meeting was held with union presidents, where their objections were formally recorded and subsequently conveyed to the state government.
Systemic Issues and a Powerful Nexus
A senior MC official highlighted deeper systemic problems plaguing the current waste management setup. He pointed to a strong nexus between the informal sector and MC unions, which actively resists the entry of any private player. Furthermore, the official noted the absence of a uniform rate chart for garbage collection from residents, leading to irregularities.
"Due to these irregularities in the entire system," the official stated, "we were unable to achieve 100% door-to-door garbage collection, as well as segregation of waste into dry and wet." This failure in basic service delivery has exacerbated the city's garbage crisis, with processing severely affected since 2021.
City Suffers as Decision Awaited
While the administrative tussle continues, Ludhiana's residents bear the brunt of a failing system. Heaps of uncollected garbage are a common sight in residential areas and on roadsides. This persistent problem has directly impacted the city's performance in national cleanliness surveys.
In the Swachh Survekshan rankings, Ludhiana has consistently performed poorly. At the state level, it has been ranked as the dirtiest city in Punjab. Nationally, its position was second last in the previous year. With a new Swachh Survekshan round about to begin, officials fear the city is likely to find itself on the same dismal platform unless a solution is found urgently.
Commissioner Dachalwal indicated that a uniform decision is being sought, as a similar solid waste management plan was proposed for five other major cities in the state. The MC's earlier attempt to tender the work ward-wise for three years received no response, leading to the current integrated eight-year plan. The authorities now await the Punjab government's directive on whether to proceed with the original plan or implement changes to address the concerns raised.
