The Hindu 16.11.2010
SHGs temporarily in charge of garbage clearance in Bidar district
Staff Correspondent
Bidar: The Bidar City Municipal Council (CMC) has accepted the demands of self-help groups (SHGs) and has decided to let them handle garbage clearance until further orders. This, however, is a temporary arrangement, say CMC officials.
The CMC had cancelled the contracts issued to SHGs after some CMC members complained that they were not working properly. A resolution was passed in the CMC's last general body meeting that the tenders for door-to-door garbage collection and cleaning of drains should be given to private contractors. The SHG members were thrown out of jobs and started putting pressure on CMC to withdraw the resolution.
However, even after two months, the CMC failed to finalise a draft contract that could be used to invite tenders. This affected garbage collection in the city. Drains remained clogged and roads were not swept on time.
Bidar, which had been rated the 22nd cleanest city in the country by the Centre's Urban Development Department, began to slowly slip down from that place.
Now, the CMC has drafted rules that guide household garbage collection, sweeping of roads and cleaning of drains. “We are sending the drafts to the State Government this week. We hope the Urban Development Department officials will approve it soon,” CMC sources said.
“In the draft, we have separated door -to -door collection of garbage from cleaning of drains and solid waste management. Though we will award the tenders of cleaning drains and solid waste management to private parties, we will retain the SHGs in charge of door-to-door collection,” the sources said.
“However, SHGs will continue to look after all these operations till the draft rules are approved and new contracts are awarded,” a senior officer said.
Deputy Commissioner Sameer Shukla said he had noticed that garbage clearance was disturbed from the day SHGs were asked to go. “CMC officials have told me that SHGs will be put back in charge of the operations from Monday,” he said.
He said the draft rules were modelled on the solid waste management rules adopted by the Mangalore city corporation.
Mr. Shukla chaired a meeting of CMC officials that finalised the draft rules.
