The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) was counting on the new garbage contractors to begin work on December 1. However, the new contractors seem to have failed to keep their end of the bargain. The BBMP is now hoping that the new contractors will begin work from Monday.
BBMP sources claimed that the contractors were ready to take up three packages in south zone, three packages in Rajarajeshwarinagar zone and four in Yelahanka zone on Monday.
They said that the new contractor was supposed to begin work in five packages coming under the Yelahanka zone. However, the contractor was unable to do so due to insufficient manpower and machinery. The BBMP’s zonal Additional Commissioner has since issued show-cause notice to the contractor.
Sources said that for the five packages, the contractor was supposed to have 888 pourakarmikas, 91 auto-tippers and 717 pushcarts. However, the new contractor was able to muster only 220 pourakarmikas, 23 auto-tippers and 20 pushcarts.
The new contractors are now alleging that the old garbage contractors are paying the pourakarmikas they had employed asking them to delay reporting to duty.
“This is a ploy to ensure that the new contractors are not able to begin work, forcing BBMP to cancel the agreement and re-tender the particular package. We have to wait and see if the new contractors will be able to overcome this hurdle,” said BBMP sources.
BBMP Commissioner Rajneesh Goel said that it was imperative for the new contractors to prove that they have the requisite men and machinery before taking up the work.
It was in October that the BBMP council accorded approval to the new garbage tenders amounting to Rs. 306 crore. The BBMP, which is spending Rs. 352 crore on the 89 packages with the old contractors, will save Rs. 46 crore if the new contractors are able to begin work. Of the 89 packages that were floated, 80 were approved. Of these, 64 packages were bagged by B.V.G. India Pvt. Ltd.
It now remains to be seen if the new contractors are able to scuttle attempts allegedly being made by the old contractors, mobilise the requisite men and machinery and begin work.
