Date:16/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/16/stories/2006061619070300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

BMP approves contracts for mechanised cleaning

Staff Reporter

Allocation increased from Rs. 38 crore to Rs. 90 crore

BANGALORE: After a delay of over one year, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Council on Thursday approved fresh garbage tenders for collection and transportation of municipal solid waste and street sweeping in the city. The tenders were approved amid protests and walkouts by MLAs and corporators of the ruling Congress and Opposition parties.

Under the new contract, mechanised sweeping, night cleaning and use of compactors to compress garbage for transportation without spilling are made mandatory.

Although the term of the garbage tenders ended on June 1 last year, BMP called fresh tenders only in December. The existing contractors were asked to continue cleaning activities till further orders.

The civic body, which had been spending Rs. 38 crore annually on cleaning, proposed to spend Rs. 90 crore a year on it under the new contracts, which had been allotted in 32 packages.

Besides, 63 more health wards had been included in the private contract system and 9.5 lakh houses in 245 health wards would be covered under the new contracts. Now, private contractors were collecting garbage from 6.8 lakh houses in 182 heath wards.

BMP Commissioner K. Jairaj explained that the new contractors would use specially designed "closed compactors", instead of `containerised autorikshaws' and lorries to transport garbage.

MLA's charge

Congress MLA K. Chandrahshekar representing Basavanagudi opposed the allocation of Rs 90 crore for garbage clearance.

In his presentation, he said: "We were spending Rs 38 crores on the cleaning of 182 health wards. With the number of health wards increased to 245, we will have to pay more. Although the number of workers and vehicles have been cut in Govindrajanagar, Chandra Layout, J.J.Nagar, Hanumanthnagar, Padmanabhanagar and Hombegowdanagar, the costs have increased. Are we paying more to the contractors for using less workforce and vehicles?" he asked.