The Times of India        21.03.2011

PANAJI: Although the Goa State Urban Development Authority (GSUDA) had purchased five tractor-towed sweeping machines for civic bodies in the state as early as 2007, they have been unused by municipal councils to which they were allotted despite them being in working condition.

According to urban development minister Joaquim Alemao, the GSUDA had purchased five sweeping machines at a cost of 97.14 lakh. The authority had also bought tractors for 11.21 lakh. The respective municipal councils, however, have been reluctant to use the machines.

For instance, while the Corporation of the City of Panaji used the machines only from November 2006 to May 2007, the Mormugao municipal council housed theirs in the municipality garage. The Margao Municipal Council too has not used its machine ever since it allotment. The matter was subsequently discussed in a July 2007 council meeting and it was decided to return the sweeping machine to the GSUDA.

However, the GSUDA has now decided to request Margao Municipal Council to retain the sweeping machine till it outsources the cleaning operation for two years. Meanwhile, the sweeping machine in Mapusa was used to clean roads within the municipality for a total of 130 hours.

Owing to the reluctance of the municipal councils and the CCP, the GSUDA is now in the process of operating one sweeping machine in one of the towns.

It may be recalled that the purchase of sweeping machines was initiated based on a budget speech assurance given by the then chief minister for the financial year 2006-07 in a bid to modernize and mechanize the sweeping of municipal roads in Goa.

After cost comparison of tractor-towed sweeping machines ( 18.53 lakh) with truck-mounted sweeping machines ( 40 lakh) was made, the GSUDA found that tractor-towed sweeping machines to be most appropriate cost-wise and usage-wise considering the small length of municipal roads in Goa and their varying widths.

Specifications of tractor-towed sweeping machines were adopted and tenders were invited. Supply order only for supply of sweeping machines were awarded to M/s T P S manufacturing company, New Delhi.

The tenders were invited in March 2006 and received in April 2006. The tenders were processed thereafter and was accepted in May 2006.

But GSUDA has not procured sweeping machines for all the municipal councils. Only 5 tractor-towed sweeping machines have been purchased for 3 municipal councils and one corporation of the city of Panaji even though other municipal councils made the request to GSUDA. These include the councils of Sanguem, Sanquelim, Bicholim, Cuncolim and Ponda.