Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Jul 22: Mangaluru City Corporation last year handed over the responsibility of solid waste management to the Mumbai-based firm Antony Waste Handling Cell (AWHC), asking it to take up 100% solid waste management in the entire city through door-to-door waste collection. But there are allegations levelled that the firm has not reached 100% solid waste management and has not fixed proper time schedule for collecting the waste from door to door.

Some of the areas within MCC limits, like a spot near Venkataramana School in Kulai and others continue to battle garbage problem, with waste being thrown on roadsieds and dustbins continuing to be an eyesore despite the door-to-door collection system.

At Kulai (Pic by daijiworld reader Dishanka D Shetty)

Speaking to daijiworld, Hanumanth Kamath of Nagarika Horata Samiti levelled allegations against Antony Waste Handling Cell and said, "Even though the company has completed six months since taking the tender to collect solid waste through door-to-door collection process, it has not reached its goal of disposing 100% solid waste. The company has to fix a time schedule to collect the solid waste from houses. When there is time variation in collecting the garbage from door to door, street dogs tear up the bundles of waste on the roads. Who is responsible for this? After the waste is scattered, the company workers do not carry it."

He also said that improper disposal of the solid waste will lead to spread of various communicable diseases in and around city.

It is also alleged that the agency is paid in terms of tonnes of garbage collected from the city, and to increase the weight of the garbage the company allegedly carries silt from the drains.

Responding to the allegations, Haridas, CEO of Antony Waste Handling Cell, told daijiworld, "As per the terms and conditions in the tender, we are doing our duty and collecting the waste from door to door by approaching the houses at the stipulated time. We have also installed GPS in hydraulic vehicles which carry the solid waste. This will help in tracing the movements of the vehicles."

He further said, "The staff members of AWHC are approaching the houses every day, unless they are hindered by an unavoidable circumstance."

Commenting on the allegation regarding collectiong of silt from the drains, he said, "We are collecting silt as per the tender agreements. MCC pays in terms of tonnage of garbage as per the agreement, even for works like sweeping and cleaning the drainage silt. The entire garbage is examined in the dump yard."

On allegation of sending the vehicles outside the city limits to collect garbage from Thumbe gram panchayat limits, he said, "On humanitarian grounds following requests from a former gram panchayat president, the vehicle was sent for a day to Thumbe where a heap of garbage was causing diseases like malaria and dengue. Moreover, the present gram panchayat president, PDO and the members also issued a press release that it was done on humanitarian grounds. People with vested interests are spreading rumours against the company. Moreover, bringing waste from Thumbe will not be feasible to the company."

Former mayor Mahabala Marla said, "The waste management system is effectively implemented in the city. People are happy with the system. Moreover, representatives, officers and people should involve in the effective implementation of collecting and disposing the garbage. Officers should track the progress."

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