JAIPUR: With no amicable solution in sight on how to make payments to the firm managing the door-to-door garbage collection project, the issue will continue to raise a stink in the city.
Though the firm resumed work on Monday after receiving an assurance from the state government, the recent fight between mayor, bureaucrat and the firm over clearance of approximately Rs 290 crore indicates a whiff of a scam in the garbage collection scheme.
A member of the sanitation committee at JMC-Greater alleged that the firm was not lifting 1,600 metric tonnes of garbage from the city and producing inflated bills.
“On April 27, the joint sanitation committee of JMC-Greater passed a resolution to terminate the contract of the company after it failed miserably.
The officials who are hand-in-glove with the firm are dragging their feet to take action.
For the past four years, the bills of the company were never settled.
How is it possible that the firm is working without getting remuneration?” Councillors further alleged that despite door-to-door garbage collection being launched, trash remains littered in all the neighbourhoods.
Congress councillor, who wished not to be named said, “As per estimation, approximately 1,500 metric tonne is lifted.
But, there is no transparent system in place to find out how much garbage is lifted.
Deputy commissioners were directed to verify the firm’s work.
But, this was not done.
To benefit the firm, exercise was also done to release the payments.” The firm representatives, however, refuted the allegation and claimed that since January, the JMC has not released any payment.
BVG India director Omkar Sapre said, “The firm requires 7,000 litres of fuel per day and Rs 2.70 crore to reimburse its employees.
In absence of payment, the company is facing financial crises.
Moreover, in August 2020 the JMC slapped a fine of Rs 57 crore for no reason.
It’s a tactic to unnecessarily harass the existing establishment.” The firm claimed, as per the tender document, the company had to collect 1,340 metric tonne from the city.
The vehicles were deployed accordingly after chalking out the plan.
At present the company is lifting more than 1,600 metric per tonne.
Contradicting company’s claim, councillors claimed that the JMC is paying higher amount Rs 1,792 per tonne and still garbage is not lifted.
A BJP councillor said, “The garbage is only lifted on papers.
From one colony the garbage is lifted in two days.
The company does not have resources and work is sublet against norms.” Sapre, however, said, “The company has deployed 800 vehicles.
Also, in the contract there is nowhere mentioned subletting is prohibited.” To resolve the issue, a team of independent engineers (IE) was also constituted to assess the collection of garbage.
But, it was also revealed the team of IE has made no assessment of garbage collection in past one year.