Palike's double standards leave a dirty trail behind

Palike's double standards leave a dirty trail behind

Basavaraj Itnaal. Bangalore
Next time you see a garbage truck stranded on a busy road or moving along leaving a trail of garbage on roads, blame the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagar Palike (BBMP). For, it directly employs trucks which are older than 20 years while it has asked garbage contractors not to use trucks older than 15 years. Contractors clear the garbage in most of BBMP areas while Palike directly deals with it in select areas.

Age of trucks
This newspaper obtained information under RTI seeking to know if BBMP practised what it preached to contractors. As per the information provided by the Palike, it believes in double standards on all counts.
In 2006, Palike awarded contract to clear garbage in 30 ranges of core areas and it ensured that the contractors provide trucks which are not older than 15 years. On the contrary, it has two trucks each in Shivajinagar, Shanthinagar and Hebbal which were manufactured in 1984.
The details of the trucks are as follows: Shivajinanagar (CAS 253 Ashok Leyland 1984; CAS 1205 Tata HGV 1984), Shanthinagar (CAS 53, Tata Benz 1984; CAS 256 Ashok Leyaland) and Hebbal (CAS 255 Ashok Leyland 1984; CAS 3837 Mahindra Alwyn 1984).
No GPS systems attached
Medical officers of Shanthinagar, Shivajjinagar and Hebbal said none of the trucks run by BBMP are fitted with GPS system. Interestingly, the Palike forced the contractors to fix GPS systems though it was not mentioned in the contract agreement (a copy of which is with DNA).
Open trucks
The contractors are required by the terms of agreement to provide closed tippers to transport the garbage so that there is no spillage on the way. While contractors have provided closed tippers, Palike lorries continue to use open trailers. The medical officers said in the RTI reply that their trucks were not fitted with closed trailers.