CHANDIGARH, June 29: The Municipal Corporation (MC) of Chandigarh has decided to reinitiate the allotment process for the city’s long-delayed horticulture waste plant, a project initially deemed “urgent” but now caught in procedural lapses and political contention.
The move follows allegations by senior BJP leader and former mayor Anup Gupta, who flagged irregularities in the earlier awarding of the contract for the proposed facility in Industrial Area Phase 2. The matter will be placed before the General House during its upcoming meeting on June 30, where officials will table a revised Request for Proposal (RFP). The new tender will be floated only after the House approves the fresh terms and conditions—adding months of delay to a project that was to be executed on a war footing.
Approved in December last year, the 60-tonne-per-day (TPD) capacity plant, estimated to cost ₹4 crore, was planned to tackle Chandigarh’s mounting horticulture waste crisis by converting pruned branches and leaves into biofuel briquettes. But the initiative stalled in January after allegations surfaced that the contract had been awarded without any Expression of Interest (EOI) or RFP, in violation of procurement norms.
Gupta, in his letter to MC commissioner Amit Kumar, had questioned whether protocols under the General Financial Rules (GFR) 2017, Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) guidelines, and the Manual of Procurement of Works 2022 were followed when M/s Hardicon Limited—a public sector undertaking—was nominated for the job.
Responding to the controversy, Commissioner Kumar had assured the House that an internal inquiry was underway and that, “The agreement will be cancelled and a fresh tender floated” if lapses were found. He also promised to ensure accountability in the process.
Ironically, insiders say the existing horticulture waste facility in Phase 2—which processes around 12 TPD—is already underperforming, yet charging the MC ₹3 lakh per month. The PSU had reportedly offered to build and run the new plant for free, proposing a profit-sharing model on briquette sales. “Given MC’s financial constraints, it looked like a practical offer,” an official said. “But to ensure transparency and calm political nerves, the civic body is starting from scratch. It will delay the project, but it’s politically necessary.”
Currently, the city operates composting pits at 104 park sites that handle about 32 TPD of mixed horticulture waste. However, combined with the limited capacity of the Phase 2 facility, the city remains grossly under-equipped to process its full waste load, with leaf litter and green debris continuing to choke public spaces.
Manimajra Land Auction to Fetch ₹794 Crore
In another significant development, the MC is preparing to auction over 7.5 acres of prime land in Pocket No. 6 of Manimajra for a multi-storey group housing project. The proposal will also be discussed in Monday’s House meeting. Divided across five plots, the cumulative reserve price crosses ₹794 crore—a figure that could significantly bolster the corporation’s revenue.
The land may be allotted to a single developer or a consortium, with the MC ruling out any scope for amalgamation or fragmentation of plots or buildings. All construction must conform strictly to the approved zoning plan, with no deviation in land use. Only residential development will be permitted.
According to the draft conditions, allottees will be responsible for paying all applicable taxes, fees, and GST levied by the Union government, Chandigarh administration, or MC. Additionally, community facilities—such as libraries, halls, creches, and society offices—must be used exclusively by residents, with no commercial activity allowed.
“No part of the structure may be merged or divided without explicit approval,” an official said, reiterating the MC’s commitment to maintaining the city’s regulated planning norms.
Monday’s meeting will likely see heated debate on both proposals, as the MC navigates between pressing infrastructure needs and procedural accountability.
