Green waste’s fiery exit in Ludhiana (Punjab): Rs 4 crore revised tender for problem’s biofuel fix.

By Nidhi Bhardwaj

The municipal corporation has relaunched a multi-crore rupee tender to outsource its horticulture waste management, seeking to turn the city’s mounting heaps of green waste into sustainable biofuel.

The revised tender, now valued at more than Rs 4.4 crore, follows an unsuccessful initial attempt that failed to attract bidders with the necessary machinery. City officials say the project is a critical step in ending the illegal burning of dry leaves and reducing the strain on local landfills. Ludhiana produces between 10 and 15 metric tonnes of horticultural waste daily, requiring roughly 50 trailer-loads to clear various parts of the city.

Currently, the city lacks a formal processing mechanism. This has led to illegal burning, as residents frequently set fire to dry leaves, worsening air pollution. Superintending engineer Sham Lal Gupta described the accumulation of green waste across the city also as a “serious problem” and an “eyesore”. A lack of field staff in the corporation’s horticulture branch has made manual collection and disposal nearly impossible.

The “Waste-to-Resource” Plan

The Integrated Waste-to-Resource Conversion Project mandates that a private firm establish and maintain a processing plant capable of handling 15 tonnes a day. Under the 24/7 operational contract, the selected firm will be responsible for gathering waste directly from the source across the city, using eco-friendly technology to convert both wet and dry waste into biofuel briquettes or pellets, and reporting illegal tree felling or improper trimming to the municipal horticulture branch.

Improving Accountability

To ensure the service remains responsive to residents, the contractor will be required to establish a toll-free complaint hotline. According to the tender documents, any reported heaps of horticulture waste must be cleared within 48 hours. Strict penalties remain in place for individuals caught burning waste, though officials hope the new streamlined collection service will eliminate the incentive for illegal disposal.

This article has been republished from The Times of India.