India, Feb. 11 -- The PMC standing committee has sanctioned Rs.129.62 crore for a sweeping contract where private contractual workers will be cleaning nine roads in three zones of Pune City for the next seven years. However, citizens have expressed serious concern citing that otherwise lackadaisical conservancy staff will avoid their regular duties as the contractual staff will carry out the activity. Meanwhile, civic rights activists, forums and residents have further alleged that PMC was spending exorbitant sums of money on road cleaning through contracts when it had its own sweeping staff being paid regular salaries for daily cleaning.

According to the PMC officials, the standing committee sanctioned the said contract for three zones ...