KOZHIKODE: Kozhikode corporation council meeting recently decided to extend the contract given to Zonta Infratech for removal of legacy waste at Njeliyanparamba trenching grounds amid stiff disapproval by opposition members.
The tenure of the contract with Zonta has been extended by one more month after slapping a fine of Rs 38.8 lakh for its lapses and delays. The decision was taken by the CPM-led ruling front amid protests and walkout by opposition (UDF and BJP) members who demanded immediate termination of the contract and blacklisting the firm.
It was in December 2019 that the corporation entered into agreement with Zonta Infratech for removing accumulated legacy waste at 6.5 acres and bio-capping at 2.8 acres. The corporation had already renewed the contract four times, the last of which had expired in November 2022. UDF members raised protest and tore the agenda of the corporation council meeting as soon as the matter was taken out for discussion and later walked out of the council hall.
Amid protest, the council approved the decision to extend the contract by 30 working days to complete the removal of legacy waste, capping and removal of RDF.
As per the decision, a special technical committee will be formed to monitor the works and if there are further lapses on the part of Zonta Infratech, the agreement will be scrapped. Also it was decided that if bio-mining and capping works are not complete within this period, Zonta will have to pay fines including those from National Green Tribunal and other bodies.
Meanwhile, opposition raised the question how the firm is going to complete works which it was not able to complete during the last four years within the next one month.
Corporation deputy mayor CP Musafir Ahammed said that the civic body has given Rs 3.4 crore to Zonta for removal of legacy waste at Njeliyanparamba, which would account for 45% of the total contract amount. He said that as per the estimates provided by the corporation’s engineering wing removal of legacy waste has been completed in 4.2 acres of the total of 6.5 acres.
