Chennai: Madras high court has directed the Tamil Nadu govt and the Tasmac administration to respond in two weeks to a petition challenging a Rs 1,000 crore tender floated for installing and operating reverse vending machines to collect empty liquor bottles across the state.The petition moved by D Kumaraguru alleged that the tender proposed to appoint a single agency for the entire state, with the contract to be awarded for seven years and an option to extend it by another three years would directly affect over 500 traders who were engaged in collecting empty bottles for several years.Admitting the plea on Friday, Justice Hemanth Chandangoudar directed the authorities to respond to the plea and adjourned it after two weeks.According to the petitioner, the state govt has been implementing a scheme to collect empty liquor bottles sold through Tasmac outlets as part of measures aimed at protecting the environment. As part of the scheme, the govt has decided to install reverse vending machines to facilitate the return of empty bottles.Accordingly, a tender was floated on August 31 for installation and operation of reverse vending machines across the state. The tender proposed to appoint a single agency for the entire state for a period of seven years, with a provision to extend the contract by another three years. Such a condition would directly affect more than 500 traders who have been engaged in collecting empty bottles for several years, the petitioner contended, the petitioner said.Instead of appointing a single agency for the entire state, the petitioner has sought an opportunity for existing traders involved in the collection of empty bottles at the district level to participate in the tender process.The petitioner wanted the court to cancel the existing tender and direct the authorities to modify the tender conditions to enable those engaged in district-level empty bottle collection to participate in the process.
