Capital's Waste Management Stalled by Vehicle Inactivity

05 Apr 2024 CW Team

The civic body had recently acquired 12 heavy vehicles, consisting of four large trucks and an equal number of small ones for lifting green garbage, along with another four large trucks designated for handling C&D waste within the city. The procurement of shredders and the finalization of an agency to operate the service have rendered this fleet ineffective.

Moreover, the shortage of skilled drivers capable of operating the fleet further exacerbates the challenges faced by the civic body. With the model code of conduct in place for elections, the process of appointing a new agency through fresh tenders might face additional delays, potentially leaving the costly vehicles to deteriorate in the open.

Acknowledging the issue, an official from the sanitation wing of the Corporation attributed the inactivity of the vehicles primarily to the unavailability of shredding machines. "We required two shredding machines for the green garbage fleet. However, with one shredder already procured, the service is expected to resume soon," the official stated, also mentioning plans to mobilize the trucks for the collection of C&D waste once skilled drivers are enlisted.

Once the fleet becomes operational, the service will be seamlessly integrated into the Safa Application. This integration will allow citizens to conveniently book vehicles for lifting both green garbage and C&D waste from their premises and localities, thereby enhancing efficiency and accessibility in waste management.

The current predicament underscores the importance of timely procurement and adequate staffing in ensuring the effectiveness of waste management initiatives, urging authorities to expedite necessary actions to address these challenges and optimize the utilization of resources for a cleaner and healthier environment.

In yet another setback to the capital city's waste management efforts, heavy vehicles purchased for lifting green garbage and construction and demolition (C&D) waste from various areas remain parked, and unused, due to multiple reasons including the delay in acquiring ancillary machines and the scarcity of skilled drivers. The civic body had recently acquired 12 heavy vehicles, consisting of four large trucks and an equal number of small ones for lifting green garbage, along with another four large trucks designated for handling C&D waste within the city. The procurement of shredders and the finalization of an agency to operate the service have rendered this fleet ineffective. Moreover, the shortage of skilled drivers capable of operating the fleet further exacerbates the challenges faced by the civic body. With the model code of conduct in place for elections, the process of appointing a new agency through fresh tenders might face additional delays, potentially leaving the costly vehicles to deteriorate in the open. Acknowledging the issue, an official from the sanitation wing of the Corporation attributed the inactivity of the vehicles primarily to the unavailability of shredding machines. We required two shredding machines for the green garbage fleet. However, with one shredder already procured, the service is expected to resume soon, the official stated, also mentioning plans to mobilize the trucks for the collection of C&D waste once skilled drivers are enlisted. Once the fleet becomes operational, the service will be seamlessly integrated into the Safa Application. This integration will allow citizens to conveniently book vehicles for lifting both green garbage and C&D waste from their premises and localities, thereby enhancing efficiency and accessibility in waste management. The current predicament underscores the importance of timely procurement and adequate staffing in ensuring the effectiveness of waste management initiatives, urging authorities to expedite necessary actions to address these challenges and optimize the utilization of resources for a cleaner and healthier environment.