The Indian Express        03.07.2013 

BMC to penalise contractors

At present, 30 per cent of the Bharat Euro IV compactors are yet to be procured, thus violating the terms of the civic body's garbage collection contract.

Of the 822 Euro IV compactors to be acquired by BMC by July 1, 613 compactors have arrived. Civic officials claim the main reason for the delay has been the Local Body Tax protests in May.

"All compactors should have arrived by July 1. While most compactors of 1 and 2.5 tonnes load capacity had been acquired, we have a shortage of 6.5 tonne capacity compactors. As per the terms of the contract we are going to cut 35 per cent of the amount due to the contractors for garbage collection," said additional municipal commissioner Mohan Adtani.

The civic body has also amended its contract to allow 10 per cent more usage of closed door vehicles for collection.

"Because of the shortage, we will also have to amend the contract to allow 20 per cent use of old Euro III vehicles as we have no other option till the new vehicles arrive. The Bombay High Court has granted us time till December 2013 - how soon we get all the vehicles depends on the manufacturing speed since they are not easily available in the market," said Adtani.