Chandigarh Bio-Mining Scam: Transfers, No Accountability

Chandigarh : A fresh corruption scandal has rocked the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, this time involving the bio-mining project and other civic infrastructure schemes. While several engineers from the corporation’s engineering wing have been transferred, the administration has yet to fix accountability on any specific individuals. Despite the serious nature of the allegations, no formal inquiry report has been made public.

The bio-mining project, which was launched to process and manage legacy waste in an eco-friendly manner, is now under the scanner for irregularities. Sources within the civic body allege that, similar to the horticulture waste plant and STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) contracts, the bio-mining project was handed over directly to a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) without a transparent tendering process. This was reportedly done with the approval of the then Chief Engineer, raising further questions on procedural violations.

Even more concerning is the fact that the Municipal Corporation continues to make payments to a private firm involved in the bio-mining process, despite the absence of proper documentation or performance-based evaluations. The situation suggests a deeper nexus between officials and contractors, one that may have allowed inflated costs and substandard services to go unnoticed.

Public pressure is mounting on the administration to hold those responsible accountable, but officials seem to be dodging responsibility. The recent transfers of a few senior engineers have been viewed by critics as eyewash, meant to placate public outrage rather than address the root of the corruption.

RTI activists and civic groups are now demanding an independent investigation by a central agency to probe the series of decisions that led to this alleged mismanagement. They argue that merely shifting engineers without fixing responsibility sends the wrong message and creates a culture of impunity.

This incident is not isolated, as similar irregularities were flagged earlier in other waste management and civil infrastructure projects. The Chandigarh administration faces growing criticism for its lack of transparency, poor governance, and questionable financial practices in public works.

The bio-mining project was supposed to be a model for sustainable waste management. Instead, it has become a symbol of bureaucratic negligence and potential financial fraud, adding to the mounting concerns over corruption in urban governance.