Contractors vow to park garbage autos at BBMP office

Strike on June 28 to counter allegation that the vehicles are stolen

Garbage collection in the city could be hit on Thursday as solid waste management contractors decided to park their autos before the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to counter allegations of missing vehicles.

Contractors belonging to Bangalore Mahanagara Swachate Matthu Lorry Malikara Hagu Guttigedarara Sangha decided to go on the massive auto display’ protest after a section of the media reported that 3,500 auto tippers and compactors are missing.

It was also reported that the BBMP officials could find out about it through Radio Frequency Identification (RFId) devices installed on the autos.

“They didn’t instal GPS trackers or RFID tags,” said S N Balasubramanyam, Chief Secretary of the Sangha.

“I’ve documents to show the number of vehicles given to each ward. We’re doing this (protest) to show that we’re not cheating the civic body,” he added.

Similar to the protest by electrical contractors who parked their vehicles in the head office against piling outstanding payments, SWM contractors would occupy the space around the BBMP office en mass. Among the vehicles to be displayed will be 3-wheeler auto tippers, 4-wheeler auto tippers, tractors, tipper lorries, 6-wheel and 10-wheel compactors from all 198 wards.

Contractors will also meet Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara on Thursday.

BBMP Joint Commissioner for health and solid waste management Sarfaraz Khan said he will be happy to verify the vehicles. “If they want to display (the vehicles), it’s well and good,” he said.

“If they do have all the vehicles, then why aren’t they lifting the garbage and why do black spots exist? Despite paying for garbage collection, we’ve been witnessing garbage every corner,” he said.