The Indian Express                      08.04.2013

Men and machines: Continuity is what the MC leaves out

Decisions taken in one tenure of the Municipal Corporation seem to be
forgotten as the next one starts. The proposal of the civic body to
purchase machines for collection of leaves had been rejected by the
councillors in the previous tenure. The same is once again doing the
rounds with the demonstration of the machine held last week.

While time and again a need for having some mechanism in place to
maintain continuity has been highlighted, little has come of it. This
time, the MC is contemplating purchasing machines which was opposed by
the councillors in the previous term of the civic body. The proposal has
raised eyebrows with the previous councillors crying foul.

Former Congress councillor Chander Mukhi Sharma says that a
demonstration of the machines was held in 2009 as well. However, the
consensus was that there was no need to purchase the machines as the
problem of leaves did not occur throughout the year. Instead, it was
proposed that the machines could be hired for a few months every year.
He adds that officials are quick to purchase machines.

The Municipal Corporation has over the years purchased several
cleaning machines that have not solved the intended purpose. The
mechanised sweeping machines procured from Italy at a cost of Rs 5 crore
have been a failure. Prior to that, two machines for road cleaning were
purchased from Noida. That too did not serve any purpose. In previous
years, a machine, “Bob Cat”, was purchased for cleaning of back lanes.
Within a few months, it became redundant.

Kamlesh, who was the mayor at that time, says, “I have time and again
raised the need for having a system in place that would ensure
continuity. The outgoing team should prepare a booklet containing the
decisions taken. The officers are on deputation and are repatriated when
the tenure ends. The councillors are elected every five years.”

She adds that the proposal to purchase the machines had earlier
been rejected. Objections had also been raised by the management of the
garbage processing plant to the proposal.

Of the previous lot of councillors, five were re-elected when
elections were held in 2011. Of these, H C Kalyan is the chairman of the
sanitation committee that saw the demonstration of the machine held
recently. He says that he does not remember seeing the machines earlier.
All the members of the sanitation committee will be shown the machine
and after examining all aspects, a decision will be taken on its
purchase, he adds.