Refuse collector, other cleaning vehicles lie idle

HUBLI: The Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation bought Rs 50 lakh worth vehicles such as a refuse collector about a year ago for maintaining cleanliness in the twin cities. But some vehicles are not being put to use defeating the purpose of acquiring them.
Though the corporation received the vehicles six months ago, it has allowed them to idle citing technical reasons and delay in the registration of one vehicle by the RTO.Some vehicles, however, are used occasionally.
In the absence of proper utilization of the cleaning vehicles, many areas in the city are stinking with overflowing garbage and drainage. Citizens alleged that HDMC employees were not attending to their complaints. According to HDMC control room sources, 50% of the complaints are about garbage and drainage.
The corporation has 34 drivers which is adequate manpower for the utilization of all HDMC vehicles, but authorities are not extracting work properly, sources said.
When contacted, HDMC officers said all vehicles were being used. Ravish, executive engineer, solid waste management, HDMC, told TOI that most of the newly bought vehicles were in use while some had technical problems.
Not just these cleaning vehicles, others too are rusting. In order to use old and unused vehicles, HDMC modified them and hoped to utilize them for other services like hearse vans by spending thousands of rupees. But these vehicles too are idling in a yard.
S H Naregal, special officer, HDMC, agreed that they were not using some of the vehicles. He said they were yet to fix charges for hearse vans as they were waiting for the approval of the general body. "Once the general body is formed, we will fix the rates and start the service,'' he said.