33% GPS devices in garbage vans not in working order

In major blow to digital monitoring of garbage collection in the city, 28 out of 86 GPS devices installed in vehicles engaged by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) are not functional. HT reports.

In major blow to digital monitoring of garbage collection in the city, 28 out of 86 GPS devices installed in vehicles engaged by the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) are not functional.

HT Image

The vehicles dispose of garbage at the solid waste management plant in Bhandwari.

The MCG website has been flooded with complaints from across the city regarding dumping of garbage in vacant lands, plots and residential areas. City councilors have also raised the issue with the civic body.

Mangat Ram Bagri, councillor, ward 10, said contractors are not using the GPS-fitted vehicles to collect garbage regularly. “I have registered 300 complaints in the past one month in my ward against the contractor for not collecting garbage daily,” Bagri said.

“Garbage has been lying unattended for days, attracting stray animals and leaving an unbearable stench,” said Kamal Dahiya, a resident of Laxman Vihar.

The civic body, however, said strict action will be taken in this regard. “We have warned contractors against penalty and asked them to submit a report by Tuesday. We have also apprised the commissioner about the non-functioning devices,” said Dr VK Thapar, chief medical officer (CMO), MCG.

Former financial commissioner (urban local bodies) Ram Niwas had ordered installation of the devices on garbage collection vehicles in July last year.

In a meeting with the MCG commissioner in the presence of contractors last week, Lakhpat Kataria, councillor of ward 9 and chairman of sanitation committee, had accused the contractors of shoddy work. “I informed the commissioner about irregularities in garbage collection,” Kataria said.

The complaints exposed tall claims made by MCG commissioner Ashok Sangwan regarding imposition of fine on erring contractors and disciplinary action against officials deputed to monitor the job.