GPS to track garbage trucks

GPS to track garbage trucks
By Satish Shile, DH News Service, Bangalore:
BBMP Commissioner Dr S Subramanya said the GPS apparatus will be installed in all 400 vehicles involved in garbage collection before June 15...


The BBMP has decided to monitor trucks and auto tippers carrying municipal waste via the GPS (Global Positioning System) technology.

The objective is to prevent garbage contractors from claiming more charges by providing false details of distance covered by their vehicles.

BBMP Commissioner Dr S Subramanya said the GPS apparatus will be installed in all 400 vehicles involved in garbage collection before June 15.

The head office staff will monitor the movement of vehicles. The Palike can identify in which area the contractors have not done their duty. If a truck is not found moving, it is clear the garbage in the ward to which the vehicle belongs to has not been cleared, he added.

Pocket more money

BBMP Special Commissioner (Finance) Sandeep Dash said contractors pocket more than Rs 120 crore as lead charges (transportation charge) in a year for disposing municipal waste. They claim they go 45 km away from the City limits to dispose garbage.

At present, the Palike has been giving a lead charge for 70 km per trip (Rs 10 per km). Most contractors claim their trucks do 5-6 trips a day and claim charges accordingly.

The system also helps the Palike calculate the quantity of garbage disposed by contractors. Dash said, “Contractors claim they dispose 3,000 tonnes of garbage everyday. But according to our estimation, so much garbage is not generated in the city. Once the system is in place, the Palike will know how many trips each truck has covered.”

Association agrees

The Association of Garbage Contractors has agreed to install GPS apparatus in their vehicles. But it has expressed doubts whether the system will serve the purpose.

Balasubramanyam, general secretary of the association, said: “The GPS equipment runs on power from the truck battery. If the battery goes off, the GPS equipment will not function. Instead of such an experiment, the Palike should take steps to provide landfill sites within 45 km from the city. Then, we won’t demand lead charges.”

HIGHLIGHTS

*System to be in place before June 15

*400 vehicles to be covered

*Total expenditure Rs 30 lakh

*Contractors get Rs 120 cr annually as lead charge