MANGALURU
Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited (AWHCL), the agency that is handling waste in the city, has served a legal notice to the City Corporation expressing its intention to discontinue collection and transportation of municipal solid waste and cleaning of streets and roadside drains, with effect from August 1, in view of expiry of the extended term of the contract.
In a notice served to the MCC Commissioner through advocate Vivekananda Paniyala, the AWHCL has stated that, The MCC has colossally and deliberately failed to pay the huge admitted legitimate outstanding bill amounting to a sum of Rs. 60.8 crore, towards reimbursement of the differential amount of minimum wages paid by it to the employees. In addition, huge arrears of bill amount is deliberately kept pending, pertaining to quarterly escalation and monthly bills. In the above context, it is also pertinent to note here that the term of the contract had originally expired on January 31, 2022. However, the government of Karnataka and MCC extended the term of the said contract for one more year, from February 1, 2022, to January 31, 2023. Again, due to the helplessness and inability of the city corporation to make any alternative arrangement, the contract was further extended by 6 more months, till July 31. In the circumstances, it is pertinent to note here that since the extended contractual term is going to expire on July 31, the AWHCL is not in a position to continue the service of collection and transportation of the municipal solid waste, both for North and South zones from August 1. We are unwilling to consider further extension of term, unless all admitted dues are paid and settled in full and final quittance, the AWHCL stated in the notice.
