Furthermore, it has been observed that even when the MMC has in place a labour force for the garbage collection, it has failed due to the absence of a proper collection system of the segregated garbage.
The MMC has asked for machinery and stock of Rs 2.65 crore from the Directorate of Municipal Administration for the streamlining and improvisation of a garbage transport system. The MMC has till date only paid around Rs 1 crore 30 lakh to Fomento Green while the remaining amount is yet to be paid.
Presently the MMC has 8 agencies and self help groups which collect garbage from all the 20 wards. Other than the number of dustbins for collection, the groups are successful. A fluctuating average total number of 120 workers under these agencies collect waste from the houses. All the 120 workers now charge Rs 50 per house per month which is a direct system of payment.
“The picking of garbage may be effective but what about the huge number of illegal houses which produce mass garbage and are neither on record nor required to pay any taxes? What we need is a census of the same to get the garbage management system effective,” said former chairperson, Savio Coutinho.
One of the labourers who collects garbage said, “We reach on time, collect garbage on time and keep the bins ready for collection on time. But what can we do if the garbage is not collected from the spot? It’s the only hitch in the system.”
“The garbage collection in the town is 80 to 85% solved, the problem is with the transportation system. For example, if the garbage bins are not collected at 10am, the bins are felled by cattle and dogs due to which the whole purpose is destroyed. This is where we have to correct the problem,” said one of the officers of MMC under anonymity.
It is also learnt from sources that the MMC has got a bailing machine from GSUDA for dry waste but has to spend Rs 20 thousand per trip to send the bailed waste to the plants which use it. The MMC is in dire need of a transportation system for the garbage. Presently 2 vehicles are always broken down for repairs and that is the reason the whole system collapses.
The tendering of dustbins and compactors is underway and the same will be completed soon according to the MMC.
The council has 7 compactors out of which 5 are working right now. These compactors use 100 litres of diesel for three days. The major part of the consumption is on idling position of the compactors and the vehicle needs to be running for the hydraulics of the compactors to work.
Most of the compactors are driven by employees of MMC and some by the daily wage drivers at Rs 221 per day. Two compactors have broken down in the last7 to 8 months.
