The Hindu 13.09.2009
Maintenance of garbage tractors cause for concern
Serena Josephine M. and Priti Narayan
Photo: T. Singaravelou
Crying for attention: Maintenance and monitoring of tractors collecting garbage in Puducherry need to be addressed at the earliest. —
PUDUCHERRY: Three days ago, a tractor under contract with the Puducherry Municipality, ran into a tea shop at Nellithope, injuring two persons. In August, a five-year-old boy was killed in an accident involving a tractor on Mahatma Gandhi Road.
Such incidents have raised concern over the maintenance of private tractors engaged in clearing garbage in the Puducherry and Oulgaret Municipalities. Residents stress that the vehicles should be checked on a regular basis to ensure proper maintenance.
There are 64 private tractors functioning in 42 wards of the Puducherry Municipality for garbage collection under the 24-hour scheme, self-help groups’ scheme and ‘Shuddham.’ The municipality has no tractor of its own as most of the vehicles have been condemned, an official said.
According to officials of the Oulgaret Municipality, the local body owns 10 tractors, while around 57 private vehicles are under contract for door-to-door garbage collection.
Local bodies are required to monitor the functioning of these vehicles. “We are taking up surprise visits to check for proper maintenance. Action is being taken if the private contractors violate contract terms and the amount to be paid for maintenance deducted,” a senior official of the Puducherry Municipality said.
Meanwhile, officials of the Oulgaret Municipality said that there are around 30 supervisors and four sanitary inspectors who monitor the functioning of these tractors. The vehicles are frequently sent to the municipal workshop or authorised dealer for maintenance.
But, councillors of both the municipalities said that such measures are not being followed on a regular basis. A.R. Selvaganapathy, ward councillor of the Puducherry Municipality, said that the local body was not checking whether the tractors were properly maintained. Timely disbursal of funds to the contractors alone would help in ensuring proper maintenance.
“The rent for the tractor, salary for workers and diesel cost are not disbursed on time. For those under the 24-hour scheme, which is being implemented in eight wards in the town limits, funds are being released only once a year. However, the self-help group members receive money once in six months. How is maintenance possible,” Mr. Selvaganapathy questioned.
Ward councillor of the Oulgaret Municipality A. Devasagayam said that one person was killed in an accident on Kamaraj Salai involving a tractor of the Oulgaret Municipality around a year and half ago.
He stressed the need to check whether all tractor drivers had valid licences. He also emphasised the need for the drivers to get enough rest and work in shifts.
A separate, dedicated junior engineer must be instated for supervising maintenance of private and municipality-owned tractors, he said. A separate private tractors maintenance wing would also help in monitoring the vehicles.
