The Times of India               25.10.2010

 MARGAO: Inadequate quantity of garbage compactors and indiscipline among vehicle drivers is threatening to throw the garbage collection and disposal exercise of the Margao Muncipal Council (MMC) into a disarray.

This was amply evident when the sanitary inspector of the civic body, Viraj Arabekar, complained to the chief officer of the MMC, Prasanna Acharya, last week, about the "high handedness" of some drivers who refuse to take orders and are irregular in their duties. Indiscipline among the drivers manning the garbage vehicles is rampant and absenteeism frequent, it is learnt.

Sources informed that though the MMC is in possession of some 12 vehicles for garbage collection, six of them are lying in unserviceable condition for the past several months. This has led to a situation where the "flying squad" that was formed to attend to emergency calls has been scrapped as the vehicle had to be put on regular routes.

The MMC, however, is yet to take any steps for procurement of new garbage compactors. The proposal sent to directorate of municipal administration (DMA) by the MMC seeking funds to purchase four garbage compactors is yet to be cleared.

Sources in the sanitary department said that the tyres of almost all the vehicles are worn out and tend to get punctured thus hampering the garbage collection exercise. That`s not all. In the absence of any store room, tools needed for collection are stored in the garbage vehicles leading to cases of thefts.