Civic body faces heat over bio-composter contracts
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Documents received by TOI alleged that the civic body was bypassing standard procedures, including e-tendering norms, in selecting service providers for the installation and maintenance of bio-composter bins. The allegations point to systematic favouritism towards two companies, Coimbatore-based Omega Ecotech Products India Pvt Ltd and Palakkad-based IRTC, since 2016.
According to sources, instead of floating a formal tender, the corporation invited expressions of interest (EOI) to sidestep mandatory procurement rules.
Omega was given the contract during the first five years from 2016, while IRTC handled it for the next three years. In Jan 2025, despite objections from BJP councillors, the corporation reappointed Omega through a council decision.
The controversy deepens with revelations that Omega is not accredited by Suchitwa Mission. Despite this, the companies received contracts worth a total of Rs 15.37 crore between 2016 and 2024, including Rs 4.87 crore for the ongoing year.
The contracts were awarded based on invoices from Omega, allegedly bypassing the requirement for e-tendering in purchases exceeding Rs 5 lakh, sources said in the document.
In response to mounting protests, the corporation finally initiated an e-tendering process this year. Four companies submitted bids: Omega (Rs 1,876 per unit), Ram Biologicals (Rs 1,653), Radico (Rs 1,928), and Green Village (Rs 1,975). While Ram Biologicals quoted the lowest rate, the corporation disqualified it, citing the company's prior blacklisting by Suchitwa Mission for failing to implement kitchen bins in 2017 and 2022.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
The firm is also reportedly under vigilance investigation following audit reports, sources alleged. Interestingly, Ram Biologicals also submitted the lowest bid in 2022–23, yet the contract went to IRTC. Critics claim this repeated pattern points to a deeper problem.
However, health standing committee chairperson Gayathri Babu refuted the allegations. "Omega was chosen purely on merit. A technical committee comprising Suchitwa Mission officials evaluated all bids based on 10 selection guidelines and Omega came out on top.
It was not the decision made by the corporation alone. They are not just suppliers but service providers who offer chatbot-based assistance and have good user feedback.
I am willing to defend our decision publicly. That said, I cannot comment on decisions made in previous terms," she told TOI. She also added that the contract with IRTC was not renewed as they did not provide an end-to-end solution for users.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Waiting area with state-of-the-art amenities inaugurated at US Consulate General
The Telangana State Consular Waiting Area, a facility with state-of-the-art amenities for those visiting the US Consulate General, was inaugurated on Thursday. Industries and IT Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu inaugurated the facility and pointed out that every move the Telangana government makes is for the people of the State. The government was appraised of the fact that visitors, around 3,000 each day, of the US Consulate General were facing inconvenience in the absence of a waiting areas. As a result, the government, through the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC), took steps to construct the facility. He explained that the a ground-level study was embarked upon and exact needs were identified. He underscored that the move is an example of the government's proactive approach not just in industrial and technological sectors but also in initiatives that bring improvements to the daily lives of the people. The Telangana government has been pro-actively working to strengthen bilateral relations between Telangana and the United States, which is a leading trade partner. Bilateral trade is in pharma, aerospace, electronics, and electric vehicles (EVs) sectors. Around 38% of Telangana's IT exports are to countries in North America. The city, he explained, serves as home base for tech giants such as Google, Amazon, Apple, and Microsoft. In January this year alone, US-based companies invested ₹31,500 crore in the state, leading to the creation of 30,000 new jobs. Hyderabad US Consul General Jennifer Larson and other dignitaries participated in the event.
Time of India
44 minutes ago
- Time of India
4 Cidco tender plots in Nerul sold for a record Rs 7.65 lakh per sq metre
Navi Mumbai: Four Cidco tender plots in Nerul were sold to a developer on Thursday for a skyrocketing price of Rs 7.65 lakh per sq m. While real estate observers said that the high-priced land deal, won by Parth Life Spaces realty group, is due to the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport, activists are sceptical about how working-class people will now be able to afford houses here, since the land itself went at a very steep rate. Parth Life Spaces will have to pay Cidco a total of Rs 1,500 crore for these four plots. Manohar Shroff, a partner of Shivam Builders group, commented: "The four adjoining tender plots in Nerul Sector 28, of areas between 4,500 sq m and 5,100 sq m, are located behind Jewel of Navi Mumbai Lake. However, this record-high land sale will ultimately put the burden on the consumers who will purchase realty spaces here. The new Navi Mumbai airport is also a factor for the high land rate; however, I feel that the builders must control the land prices and make corrections to ensure that the prices do not overshoot. " You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The head of MCHI-Credai (Raigad), Rajesh Prajapati, said: "I do not want to speculate as to what caused these four Cidco land plots to be sold at such a high rate. It is a sensitive issue, and any speculation may directly affect the real estate market." When TOI contacted Cidco, a spokesperson confirmed the record-high land sales but declined to comment further. Activist B N Kumar of NatConnect Foundation said: "After this record-high land bidding at Nerul, one wonders how the builder will be able to get bookings from consumers, because the prices may cross Rs 50,000 per sq ft here. Serious realty investors from India and even Dubai may be able to afford such rates, but not the common salaried people." RTI activist Anarjit Chauhan added: "Earlier, the middle-class people used to reside in Navi Mumbai and Thane. In the mid-nineties, as real estate rates increased, the working class went further to Panvel, Mira Road, and Vasai-Virar for affordable housing. So, only the super-rich will be able to live in places like Vashi, Nerul, Palm Beach Road. Who cares about the middle class anymore?"
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Demand to recover gradually, says HUL
Mumbai: Hindustan Unilever ( HUL ), the country's largest fast-moving consumer goods company, said demand is recovering gradually and that it does not expect the situation to "magically change overnight", even as it steps up investments and has lowered its margin guidance after reporting a 5% increase in revenue during the June quarter. The company reported sales of Rs 16,323 crore for the first quarter of 2025-26 with a net profit increase of 6% to Rs 2,768 crore. Its volume, or the number of packs sold, increased 4%. The revenue expansion during the quarter was the highest in nearly two years, with the company's sales growth hovering between flat and 4% since July-September 2023. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Leadership Technology Degree Healthcare Product Management Data Science Cybersecurity healthcare CXO Operations Management MCA Digital Marketing PGDM Finance Others MBA Management others Public Policy Data Analytics Data Science Design Thinking Artificial Intelligence Project Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK EPIS Async India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Critical Thinking & Decision-Making Skills Power of Emerging Technologies Innovation and Drive Organizational Change Fostering a Culture of Innovation Duration: 9 Months MIT xPRO MIT Technology Leadership and Innovation Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Opportunities & Outlining Plans to use AI & ML Applying Data-Driven Business Innovation Best Practices Changing Culture to Integrate AI-Enabled Technologies Ethics, Privacy and Regulations in AI & ML Duration: 20 Weeks Indian School of Business ISB Leadership in AI Starts on May 14, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIM Lucknow CERT-IIML SLP India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 18 Weeks 109820388 Strategic Marketing for Leaders: Leveraging AI for Growth Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Strategic Thinking & Planning Competitive Advantage & Market Positioning Strategic Leadership & Decision-Making Change Management & Organizational Transformation Duration: 1 Year IIM Kozhikode IIMK Advanced Strategic Management Programme Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Indore Executive Programme in Business Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Financial Accounting & Analysis Financial Instruments & Markets Corporate Finance & Valuation Investment Management & Banking Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode IIMK Professional Certificate in Financial Analysis and Financial Management Starts on Mar 30, 2024 Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Senior Management Programme Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Indore Executive Programme in Business Management Starts on undefined Get Details "Hopefully, this recovery will be sustained and it's moving in the right direction. But it's gradual. Our prognosis is that given all of the movements that have been done by the government, fiscal, monetary, good monsoon, food inflation, all of that bodes well for mass consumption," said Rohit Jawa, MD, HUL. "Our rural growth that had lagged initially are back to growing every quarter and have gradually recovered and are sustaining. Even urban growth, although not as fast as rural, has also recently shown an uptick, largely driven by small cities and towns." Urban markets account for nearly two-thirds of HUL's sales and have seen weakening demand due to inflationary pressures, low wage growth and higher housing rentals. The maker of Rin detergent and Dove shampoo, whose performance is considered a proxy for broader consumer sentiment in India, said lower inflation and income tax benefit would help sustain the recovery. "The income tax rebates, plus the fact that the repo rates have come down means housing loans or EMIs (equated monthly instalments) will reduce. That has a material impact on people's consumption baskets. Things like inflation are also quite low, right, and that makes a big difference to the urban consumer," said Jawa. The company's earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) margin fell 130 basis points year-on-year to 22.8% in the June quarter. A recent report from market researcher Numerator (formerly Kantar) said demand for daily groceries, household and personal products slowed to 3.9% volume growth year-on-year in the June quarter, after early rainfall impacted beverages and summer products sales. However, household care was the only category that expanded, owing to its biggest sub-segment, laundry, which grew 4% during the quarter against 2.6% growth a year ago. HUL gets a third of its revenue from homecare.
