Cuttack: The Integrated Solid Waste Management Project, 2016 - which is touted as one of the most crucial reforms being undertaken by the civic body - is stuck in a legal tangle.

A private party had emerged the lowest bidder for implementing the Rs 147.26 crore project. The municipal council had approved the tender finalisation process on December 15. Subsequently, it was sent to the government for approval.

But Orissa High Court issued a stay order on taking final decision on the tender process on February 12. The petition, on which the interim stay order was issued, is pending adjudication by the court.

Municipal commissioner Bikash Ranjan Mohapatra said there was very little that could be done till the interim stay order was vacated.

"But, we will fight it out in the court for vacation of the stay order or early disposal of the case when the matter comes up next week", Mohapatra said.

The legal hurdle has cast a shadow on the project which is to be implemented through a five-year contract with the private operator who had emerged as lowest bidder.

The project envisages GPS tracking system, biometric attendance system, mechanised sweeping and a new set of regulations for better segregation and disposal of waste. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation had planned to replace manual sweeping by mechanised sweeping in the main thoroughfares of the city.