Patna, Sept. 22: The civic body suffered a blow after the consortium assigned to keep the city’s streets clean backed out of the project late last night.

Jindal-ITF Limited and MBM-Dallah, selected by Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (BUIDCo) on behalf of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC), shot off a letter to the civic body, informing them of their decision.

Yesterday, the high court had ordered PMC to cart away filth from roads within six days. PMC commissioner Pankaj Kumar Pal today said: Around 9pm yesterday, we were informed that the two companies — Jindal-ITF Limited and MBM-Dallah — which had been finalised for solid waste management project, have backed out.”

On the other hand, ward councillors today boycotted the PMC and BUIDCo’s proposal to set up a special purpose vehicle, which would be under the urban development department and collect solid waste from streets and households. “This is not acceptable. The BUIDCo will take all control and the councillors and the PMC will be left with no control,” most board members said.

“We asked BUIDCo for help and it agreed to set up a company under the urban development department. The PMC cannot do it. The firm will work as a division of BUIDCo for now. It will be under the department and wi-thin three months,” Pal said.

BUIDCo managing director Anupam Suman said: “ If the no-objection certificate is given to us, work will start immediately. A monthly charge of Rs 30 will be charged from each household for waste collection. Small shops and hotels will have to pay Rs 100 every month.”