The Pune Municipal Corporation has recovered around Rs 6.25 lakh in penalties from six contractors accused of negligence in sweeping work across the city, while introducing a fine of Rs 1,000 for every worker found failing to perform assigned duties. The civic body said the action has improved the quality of sweeping work by around 50%.
The penalties follow spot inspections conducted by PMC officials across areas managed by different ward offices. The civic body has assigned sweeping operations in various areas to separate contractors and is checking whether the work is being carried out according to prescribed standards.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Prajit Nair has inspected several locations and said surprise inspections would continue in the coming days. Officials said action was initiated after garbage was found at places where sweeping work had already been carried out, raising concerns about whether contractors were completing their duties effectively.
The PMC has also launched a three-month performance-based sweeping project on a pilot basis. The project is intended to link contractor performance more closely to on-ground results, with inspections and penalties forming part of the monitoring process.
Notices were issued to Priyank Enterprises Prime Avenue, Sumit Facilities Ltd, Siddhivinayak Enterprises and Global Waste Management Cell Pvt Ltd, among others. Under the Bibwewadi ward office, L.V.G. Facilities India Pvt Ltd was fined Rs 2.75 lakh after its work remained below expectations even two months after the project began.
A contractor operating under the Kothrud-Bavdhan ward office, Lokrajya Self-Employment Services Cooperative Society, was fined Rs 20,000. The PMC said the total recovery from the six contractors had reached approximately Rs 6.25 lakh.
“Earlier, contractors were mostly issued notices. One company was fined Rs 5,000. We have now started imposing a penalty of Rs 1,000 per worker. This has resulted in around 50% improvement in the work,” Santosh Varule, deputy commissioner of the PMC solid waste management department, said.
The pilot project will run for three months, during which PMC officials are expected to continue inspections and impose penalties when sweeping work does not meet the required standard.
