PCMC Corporators Question ₹750-Crore Biogas Project Tender

A controversy has erupted over the tender process for a proposed biogas plant at the Moshi garbage depot in Pimpri-Chinchwad, with two corporators alleging irregularities and demanding an independent inquiry.

The corporators, Sandeep Waghere and Sulabha Ubale, addressed a press conference on Thursday, questioning the tender floated by the Environment Engineering Department of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). The tender is for a 375 metric tonnes per day wet waste-to-biogas plant under the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model on a public-private partnership basis.

Waghere claimed that the project's initial estimate was around ₹180 crore, but the contractor would receive a tipping fee of ₹3,611 per tonne of waste processed. This would amount to nearly ₹13.54 lakh per day, over ₹50 crore annually, and around ₹750 crore over 15 years. The contractor would also earn revenue from the sale of biogas generated by the plant, which could reach around ₹6.3 lakh per day, ₹22 crore annually, and more than ₹344 crore over the project's duration.

The corporators alleged that the tender terms were financially favourable to the private contractor and questioned why the civic body was not considering operating the project on its own. They also levelled allegations against Environment Engineering Department Chief Engineer Sanjay Kulkarni, claiming the project had been designed to benefit the contractor at the cost of the municipal corporation.

The project is expected to produce large quantities of biogas and organic fertiliser, generating additional revenue for the contractor. The corporators demanded that the tender process, financial calculations, and contract conditions be examined by an independent expert committee before any further decision is taken.

They also sought complete transparency in the financial aspects of the project and urged the civic administration not to approve any proposal that could harm the interests of the municipal corporation. The corporators' allegations have raised questions about the project's viability and the potential benefits to the municipal corporation.

The PCMC had proposed the biogas plant as a solution to the city's waste management problems. The plant was expected to process waste and generate biogas, which could be used as a source of energy. However, the corporators' allegations have cast a shadow over the project's future.

The civic administration has not responded to the corporators' allegations, and it remains to be seen how the project will move forward. The corporators' demand for an independent inquiry has highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in the tender process.

In conclusion, the controversy over the biogas plant tender has raised important questions about the project's viability and the potential benefits to the municipal corporation. The corporators' allegations have highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in the tender process, and it remains to be seen how the project will move forward.

The project's outcome will have significant implications for the city's waste management and the municipal corporation's finances. The corporators' demand for an independent inquiry is a step towards ensuring that the project is transparent and accountable.

The incident has also raised questions about the role of private contractors in public-private partnerships. The corporators' allegations have highlighted the potential risks of such partnerships, where the interests of the private contractor may not align with those of the municipal corporation.

Overall, the controversy over the biogas plant tender has highlighted the need for transparency and accountability in the tender process. The corporators' demand for an independent inquiry is a step towards ensuring that the project is viable and beneficial to the municipal corporation.