Garbage collection may come to a halt today

Garbage collection may come to a halt today

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Jan 05, 2015: Collection of garbage from people’s doorsteps, its transportation to the compost plant at Pachchanady, street sweeping and the entire other solid waste management works in the city may come to a halt on Tuesday.

According to sources in the Mangaluru City Corporation, the contractor, Antony Waste Handling Cell Pvt. Ltd., has threatened to stop work demanding about Rs. 10 crore due to it from the civic body from February last. The company is handling waste management in the city.

The sources said that according to the company, the civic body owed Rs. 2.5 crore from February to July 2015 to it. The amount is in dispute and the corporation has not taken any decision to settle it. The company claims that the civic body owes Rs. 1.60 crore for August-September 2015, Rs. 1.25 crore for October and Rs. 4.9 crore for November and December 2015.

When contacted, Haridas Saliyan, project in-charge of the company, confirmed that the company has decided to stop work. He said that the company has been forced to stop work from Tuesday.

Mr. Saliyan said that the company issued a notice to the corporation on December 21, 2015 and gave a week’s time to the civic body to settle the dues. It told the corporation that the company had working capital sufficient for a week. It continued working on a request from the corporation.

Asked whether the company is using pressure tactics to get its dues from the corporation cleared, Mr. Saliyan replied in the negative.

Corporation commissioner H.N. Gopalakrishna told The Hindu that he was not aware of the decision of the company. The corporation has no information on it. He said that he would talk to the company authorities.

Prakash Saliyan, chairman, Standing Committee for Public Health, Education and Social Justice, said that there are issues which would have to be sorted out before making payment. The company has not adhered to many contract conditions. Hence, the payment has not been made. It has sub-let some works which it should not do. Grass cutting and street sweeping were not being done properly. Workers are not wearing uniforms.

Mr. Prakash alleged that the company is using “pressure tactics”. He has been informed about the company’s decision by an official of the corporation. The corporation will take on-the-spot decision if the company stopped work on Tuesday, he said.

 

Courtesy: Thehindu