The Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited (TNUIFSL) has started the process to overhaul solid waste management in 12 major municipal corporations. They have invited tenders to hire consultancy firms for preparing Detailed Feasibility Reports (DFRs) and providing transaction advisory services under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The municipal corporations covered by this initiative include Avadi, Hosur, Tambaram, Vellore, Coimbatore, Erode, Salem, Tiruppur, Madurai, Thoothukudi, Tiruchirappalli, and Tirunelveli.
The consultancy assignment has been split into three packages with a total estimated value of Rs 4.05 crore. This move comes as the current three-year contracts with private agencies for solid waste management are nearing completion. As per Government Order (G.O.) No.116 issued on August 24, 2022, municipal corporations and municipalities in Tamil Nadu were allowed to engage private agencies for solid waste management activities on a contractual basis for three years.
The government is reassessing the existing model before issuing new tenders due to various shortcomings in the current setup. Issues identified include gaps in maintaining cleanliness standards, monitoring service delivery, and ensuring operational efficiency. Therefore, revised contract conditions and a more structured framework are being contemplated before the next round of tenders is released.
The proposed consultancy firms will be responsible for creating comprehensive feasibility reports to turn the 12 corporations into garbage-free cities. These reports will also concentrate on enhancing compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, and establishing sustainable systems for the collection, transportation, and management of municipal waste. The consultancy reports are anticipated to offer a roadmap for enhancing urban sanitation, improving accountability, and achieving better outcomes under the PPP model.
Concerns have been raised by conservancy workers and labor organizations regarding the proposal. They have consistently opposed the outsourcing of sanitation services, citing job insecurity, poor working conditions, and inadequate welfare measures for workers. R. Balasubramanian from the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) mentioned that outsourcing has deprived many workers of permanent employment opportunities and labor rights. K. Bharathi, president of Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam, urged the government to prioritize workers’ welfare and reconsider further outsourcing, emphasizing that expanding privatization could leave workers open to exploitation and uncertainty.
