Pune, 16th July 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) declared Antony Lara Enviro Solution Pvt. Ltd. technically eligible for a 500-tonne solid waste processing project despite the ongoing investigation into the Moshi landfill tragedy involving the Antony Lara group.
Although the company was eventually not awarded the contract, the episode has raised questions over the civic body's handling of the tender process.
The controversy stems from the recent accident at the Moshi garbage depot in Pimpri-Chinchwad, where a massive heap of waste collapsed onto a building operated by Antony Lara Renewable Energy, killing nine workers. Investigations also revealed that parts of the structure were allegedly unauthorised, and a criminal case was registered against the project's in-charge.
While the incident was under investigation, PMC proceeded with its tender for processing 300 tonnes of wet waste and 200 tonnes of dry waste every day. Technical bids were opened on July 7, with only two companies participating, Bhumigreen Energy Envirocare LLP and Antony Lara Enviro Solution Pvt. Ltd.
Despite the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the Antony Lara group, PMC declared the company technically qualified instead of disqualifying it on ethical grounds.
After the financial bids were opened, Antony Lara Enviro Solution quoted a tipping fee of ₹1,190 per tonne, while Bhumigreen Energy Envirocare LLP quoted ₹943 per tonne. Since Bhumigreen submitted the lower bid, it was awarded the contract, sparing PMC from further controversy.
Officials noted that companies in the waste management sector often operate through multiple subsidiaries under the same parent group. This allows one subsidiary to continue participating in tenders even if another faces legal or operational issues elsewhere.
Deputy Commissioner of the Solid Waste Management Department, Santosh Warule, said the company working at the Pimpri-Chinchwad project and the company that participated in Pune's tender are legally different entities.
He added that the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has not yet blacklisted the contractor, leaving PMC with no legal grounds to disqualify it from the tender process.
Officials familiar with the tender process said that if PMC had disqualified Antony Lara Enviro Solution at the technical stage, only one bidder would have remained. In such a situation, the civic body would likely have had to cancel the tender or invite fresh bids instead of proceeding with the existing process.
The timing of the tender has therefore come under scrutiny, with critics questioning whether PMC should have waited for action by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation before finalising the contract.