Daily Times

KARACHI: In order to clear nearly 2.20 million tonnes of the garbage staled from 1,668 sites in Karachi; Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) has given four private sector companies to complete the lifting of garbage within a period of six months, officials of SSWMB informed.

This step for clearing garbage backlog would also provide a free hand to Chinese Company to start lifting operation from South and East districts of city in better environment, officials stated.

After completion an open tender process, based on companies credentials it awarded collection and transportation contract of backlog to two landfill sites to Ahmed and Company in South district for Rs 365 per tonne, Sandco Company in East district for Rs 345 per tonne and Rs 475 per tonne in Central respectively, Astoro and Company in Korangi district for Rs 325 per tonne and Rs 375 per tonne in West respectively and Westa and Company in district Malir for Rs 419 per tonne.

For all of the procedure, Rs 500 million has been allocated while the total job of its completion would cost nearly Rs 5 billion, officials revealed.

The work under these contracts, comprises would collect/lift all types of solid waste/garbage but not limited to domestic/commercial solid waste, rubbish, shrubs, tree cutting of any condition and from (dry, semi dry or wet) as well as debris mixed with or without garbage and any other waste found/scattered/dumped any where in lanes, streets, roads, footpaths, open spaces, plots or any place or point within their respective areas.

The transportation to landfill sites (Gond Pass/Jam Chakro) including loading/unloading, haulage/transportation and weightage from the designated weighbridges is also the responsibilities of these companies.

The contractor shall be responsible to arrange collection and removal of solid waste/garbage even from narrow lanes which is not accessible by machinery by using manual force.

SSWMB has indicated that millions of tones garbage and rubbish backlog on roadsides and streets at Shorab Goth, Sharafi Goth, Murtaza Chowrangi, Azeem Pura graveyard Shah Faisal Colony, 100 quarters Korangi, Football Ground sector 5 Orangi Townand School Ground Sector 9-E Orangi Town has to be taken care of .

In this regard, a result of a survey revealed that over Rs 395 million are required for lifting around 422,000 tonnes of garbage accumulated in 1,668 heaps in different sites of Karachi.

According to report around 12,373 tonnes of garbage is generated on daily basis in the city and only 47 percent of the garbage on average is lifted every day.