CHENNAI: Days after inviting tenders, the Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL) has cancelled the tenders issued to appoint consultancy firms for preparing detailed feasibility reports (DFRs) for the collection and transportation of municipal solid waste under the public-private partnership (PPP) model in 12 municipal corporations across the state.
Speaking to the TNIE, a senior government official said the tenders were withdrawn after they were misconstrued as a fresh attempt to privatise municipal solid waste management.
“Solid waste management has already been privatised in all municipal corporations and municipalities since 2022. However, the recent tender for preparing DFRs was misunderstood as a fresh move towards privatisation.
To clear the misunderstanding, we have decided to re-examine the whole system,” the official said. Sources said that, now, the department will identify gaps in the current system, improve it further and decide the next course of action.
On June 20, the TNUIFSL had invited bids from private firms to prepare DFRs and provide transaction advisory services for solid waste management in Avadi, Hosur, Tambaram, Vellore, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Tiruppur, Madurai, Thoothukudi, Tiruchy and Tirunelveli.
The consultancy work was divided into three packages with an estimated cost of Rs 4.05 crore, to be funded through the Project Development Grant Fund.
Officials said the proposal to prepare the feasibility reports came after shortcomings were identified in the existing contractual arrangements.
However, the proposal drew sharp criticism from various political parties and workers’ unions. While some described it as a fresh attempt to privatise municipal solid waste management, others argued that the move indicates the state government’s intention to continue privatisation of solid waste management.
Left welcomes move
The CPM and CPI on Friday welcomed the state government’s decision to cancel the tender. In a statement, CPM state secretary P Shanmugam said sanitation workers in the state had traditionally been appointed as permanent employees, but many were later pushed into temporary and contract jobs, leading to insecurity and exploitation.w