Visakhapatnam: The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has issued tenders for collecting and transporting animal waste through e-procurement with an estimated budget of above `2 crore.
The tender necessitates that the contractor provides MSME certificate, owns a vehicle and is able to transport at least 10 tonnes of animal waste daily to the designated yard in Kapuluppada. So far, the corporation received over 40 tenders.
Assistant medical officer and city veterinary doctor of GVMC Dr N. Kishore told the Deccan Chronicle, “There are 1,685 meat shops in Visakhapatnam, generating a monthly income of `6 lakh. We have eight zones and work will be given to eight different contractors.”
The current tender calls for interested contractors for collection and transportation from specific zones under GVMC, with contracts being awarded to the lowest bidders. However, the expiration of previous contracts led potential bidders to seek support from local MLAs.
The contractors who secured the contracts from the GVMC earlier have begun selling it to fish farmers, resulting in heightened competition. This intense competition led to instances where contractors stopped invoicing the GVMC and collected payments directly and a result, there is political pressure from the local MLAs to award contracts to specific individuals.
Dismissing concerns over such bidders and allegations of political favouritism, Kishore said that the GVMC’s dedication to public health and waste management remains steadfast. “We are planning a rendering unit to handle this animal waste. With this rendering unit, GVMC aims to generate additional revenue,” he added.
The demand for animal waste had surged due to increased fishpond cultivation in the city’s suburbs, Anakapalle and East Godavari districts. Breeders consider feeding boiled chicken and mutton waste to fish accelerates its growth.
Ensuring the proper disposal of waste from chicken and mutton shops is crucial for public health, as the accumulation of waste can lead to disease risks. The GVMC, which plays a vital role in waste management in Visakhapatnam, had acknowledged this and took measures to ensure effective waste disposal.
