A day after the High Court rapped the State Government and Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for failing to solve the garbage crisis in the city, the government approved the new garbage contracts for 77 packages.
BBMP Commissioner Rajneesh Goel told mediapersons here the government issued the order after approving the contracts. Now all what remained was for the BBMP is to issue work order. “But before that can be done, the new contractors have to submit implementation plan and other formalities. After this, the BBMP will enter into an agreement with the contractors and issue work orders.”
Once this is done, the BBMP will issue termination orders to the old contractors.
Strict monitoring
A solid monitoring system will be in place before the new garbage contractors enter the field. They will be asked to submit daily reports.
“They will be asked to download the Android-based software, take photos and upload them on the BBMP website. They should take photos of pourakarmikas during attendance at all the mustering centres, black spots, and the cleared waste. Only then will their bills be cleared.”
Currently only BBMP officials were uploading photos on the website. In 15 days, even the public may do so. “The photos will be geo-referenced. So, we will know the exact spot where and when they were taken. Once it is uploaded, the engineer concerned will be alerted to solve the issue immediately. After attending to it, the engineer will upload another photo.”
Based on the recommendations of the expert committee, the BBMP will constitute a ward-level consultative committee with local residents and residents’ welfare associations. This committee would have to develop local strategies to handle solid waste management and effectively use IEC (Information Education Communication) to create awareness. “Each ward will have its own Facebook page that will be maintained by the local engineers.”
The BBMP had submitted the garbage byelaws to the government seeking its approval. However, the All-India Institute of Local Self Government had recommended some changes to the byelaws based on those in force in Delhi and Ahmedabad.
