Cuttack, June 15: Sanitation in the city has taken a beating following a delay in floating fresh tenders for solid waste management by the municipal corporation.

Residents of all 59 wards in the city are upset as there have been irregularities in the timely collection and disposal of garbage over the past few weeks.

"Though the contract with Hyderabad's Ramky Environ Engineers Limited (REEL) expired on April 30, the civic body is yet to take measures to invite fresh tenders," said Giribala Behera, councillor of ward No. 4.

Although the civic body has extended the contract with Ramky temporarily, garbage is not being lifted from various designated points for days together. The city generates nearly 300 to 350 metric tonnes of garbage a day, but about 30 per cent of the waste is left on the roads and is cleared the next day.

In March, the civic body decided not to renew the contract with Ramky after it was alleged that the tender was fixed by gangster brothers Sushil and Sushant Dhal Samant.

"Cuttack was ranked 59 among the 73 urban areas in the nation-wide Swachh Sarvekshan or cleanliness survey conducted by the Union urban development ministry. This speaks volumes about the sanitation measures in the city," said Kishore Das, a resident of Badambadi.

However, senior officials of the Cuttack Municipal Corporation claimed that the process of finalising clauses and terms and conditions for the new tender process has been completed.

"We have decided to invite fresh tenders for solid waste management by June end after getting approvals from the standing committee of the corporation," said municipal commissioner Gyana Das.

City health officer P.K. Pradhan said the new tender would be invited following guidelines of the Swacch Bharat Mission and this time, the focus would be on door-to-door collection of waste.

According to the proposals, ensuring 100 per cent house-to-house collection of garbage will be a pre-requisite for companies and firms participating in the tender.

Though the civic body had introduced door-to-door collection of garbage in 2013, it was limited to a few wards and had not generated support from the people.

"Door-to-door collection of garbage will be simultaneously done in all 59 wards after the finalization of the new tender for integrated solid waste management. There will be a provision for penalty in case of violation in execution of the new system," Pradhan added.

Official sources said the civic body planned to increase funds to revamp solid waste management in the city keeping in view the allocation to be received under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

According to the previous contract with Ramky, the private player had charged Rs 1,764 per metric tonne of garbage, which is much cheaper than the cost incurred by other municipal corporations, including Bhubanewar Municipal Corporation towards solid waste management.