IBN finally selects 2 firms for DPR on Valley waste
KATHMANDU, Feb 12: Investment Board Nepal (IBN) on Wednesday finally selected two firms for preparing a detailed project report for solid waste management for Kathmandu Valley.
IBN has divided the Kathmandu Valley Solid Waste Management Project into three packages and the two firms are tasked with preparing a technical, legal, financial and environmental evaluation of the project.
The project conceived in 2009 is said to be the most scientific and aims to utilize the waste for producing chemical fertilizer and also generating electricity, besides solving the chronic problem of waste disposal in the Valley.
The first package of the DPR for Kathmandu Metropolitan City and neighboring communities has been awarded to Nepwaste Pvt Ltd, a joint venture of Finnish firm Compunication OY and The Organic Village.
Likewise, Clean Valley Company Pvt Ltd, a joint venture of BVG, Greenfield Waste Management and KRYSS International, has been tasked with the second and third packages of the waste management project DPR. Lalitpur Sub-metropolis, Kirtipur Municipality and neighboring VDCs are included in the second package, while Bhaktapur and Madhyapur-Thimi municipalities are in the third package.
Multiple factors came into play during the selection process which was started back in 2009 by the Ministry of Local Development. The mega project was brought within the ambit of IBN after it was created in 2011.
The ministry had invited expressions of interest (EoI) for the project in 2009 and 11 firms were short-listed out of a total of 18. Eight of them had submitted Requests for Proposal (RFP) for the development of the project. Hydroair Technotics (PCD) Ltd had scored the highest points in the beginning of the evaluation but IBN later disqualified it. A court appeal by the firm delayed the process by more than a year. The court has upheld IBN’s decision, clearing the way for proceeding ahead. IBN officials said the DPR task was divided between the two firms as both had secured equal points in the RFP document evaluation.
The project is being developed on a public-private partnership model in accordance with the Act on Private Financing in Build and Operation of Infrastructures 2006.
Speaking at the function for issuing “work order” to the selected firms, CEO of IBN Radhesh Pant said that Wednesday’s decision is an important step towards solving the lingering problem of waste management in the Valley through scientific management.
Pant also said that the solid waste management project will be executed after signing project development agreements with the two firms if the DPR shows that it is technically and financially feasible. The period for completing the DPR is set from six to 11 months.
Government officials said the project will resolve long-running disputes arising out of waste in the Valley.
Source: Republica
