Pune: Rs 500-Crore Waste Project Sparks Political Row in Pune Over Alleged No-Bid Contract

Uruli Devachi, 18th March 2026: A proposed Rs 500-crore waste processing project at Uruli Devachi has triggered a political and administrative storm within the Pune Municipal Corporation, with opposition leaders alleging that the contract is being pushed without a transparent bidding process.

At the centre of the controversy is a plan to establish a mechanical facility to process the city’s growing wet waste. The project, designed to handle nearly 500 metric tonnes per day, is proposed on a 10-year contract with a tipping fee of Rs 695 per tonne, along with annual cost escalation provisions.

Questions have been raised over the manner in which the proposal was advanced. Opposition members claim that the file was moved swiftly and placed before the Standing Committee without adequate scrutiny, fuelling suspicions of favouritism towards a private contractor.

The issue gains significance amid existing waste management practices, where a portion of wet waste is currently diverted to farmers and biogas units. However, objections from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board against direct disposal on agricultural land have made it necessary for the civic body to explore alternative processing solutions.

Standing Committee members have objected strongly, insisting that the proposal be discussed in detail only after all relevant documents and terms are made available. They have also alleged that certain provisions are being used to justify awarding the contract directly, instead of inviting competitive bids.

Congress leader and committee member Prashant Jagtap criticised the approach, arguing that projects of such scale typically require global tenders to ensure transparency and cost efficiency. He cautioned that any move perceived as benefiting a specific contractor would face stiff opposition.

The proposed project also includes long-term operation and maintenance responsibilities, aiming to enhance waste processing capacity at Uruli Devachi. While civic officials maintain that the initiative is crucial to tackle the city’s mounting waste challenge, the controversy has shifted the spotlight onto governance standards, transparency, and accountability within the municipal administration.