JOIN USBBMP wakes up to waste collectors' health
Considering the hazardous nature of their jobs, the BBMP Standing Committee on Health has decided to enforce stringent measures while issuing new garbage collection tenders.
The committee will place more emphasis on the contractors to provide garbage collectors with gloves, boots and overalls.
“In most of the cases, the provisions made by the contractors are inadequate and disturbing. Hence, the committee will lay more stress on the safety aspects of garbage collectors,” said Chairman of the Standing Committee on Health, Manjunath Reddy, on Wednesday.
Top priority will be accorded to labour safety and ensuring efficient and regular clearance of garbage, said Reddy.
The committee took serious note of the laxity shown by contractors in Neelasandra during an inspection, and directed the officers to issue a notice to garbage contractors for being negligent, and sub-leasing the contract of the entire ward without the Palike’s knowledge.
The tenders issued to the contractors empower the Palike to cut five per cent of the billed amount towards garbage collection, for unsatisfactory work. However, in this case, the BBMP has already directed the authorities to make full payment.
On the same day, the Committee issued notice demanding the closure of the popular Hyderabad Biryani House on Victoria Road for lack of hygiene and poor upkeep.
Wet garbage was found right next to the kitchen raising serious doubts about the quality of food served to customers, the panel said.
Even the Karnataka Meat and Poultry Corporation (KMPC) adjoining the Biryani House was ordered to close its business owing to bad maintenance. “Both the Hyderabad Biryani House and the KMPC lacked maintenance and had expired trade licences. The KMPC displayed a licence that was issued in 2008-09,” said Reddy.
The Palike administration should have acted on the orders of the Commissioner and Mayor and levied penalty for not obtaining fresh trade licences, he said.