JOIN USThe Bharat Vikas Group India Private Limited, (BVG India), which has bagged 49 out of the 89 garbage clearance packages in the City, has cited ‘hooliganism’ and ‘petty politics’ as reasons for its failure to clear garbage in the last three days.
“Our equipment were snatched and pourakarmikas were threatened. On account of these mischievous acts, we were unable to muster enough men and material,” Prasanna Shastri, vice president of the company said on Tuesday. He said he would wait for two days for the workers to return, failing which he would bring labourers from outside. He also blamed a section of officials for ‘showing allegiance to previous contractors.’
The BVG India has come under fire for its poor performance in clearing garbage from many areas of the City. It failed miserably in Yelahanka as it could not gather the required number of men and material. Only 140 pourakarmikas reported for duty on Monday against the required 888 workers. The firm had less than 20 per cent of the required number of pushcarts, autorickshaws and tippers.
Ashoka holds meeting
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister R Ashoka held a meeting with Mayor Venkatesh Murthy and chairpersons of the Palike standing committees on resolution of garbage crisis. The minister said the crisis may eclipse the prospects of the ruling party in the Assembly elections, just months away.
The challenges faced by BVG India in clearing garbage in the City and the ‘ploy of the old contractors’ were brought to the notice of the minister.
The meeting also discussed the failure of the Palike officials to discipline the contractors. The infighting between the standing committees drew Ashoka’s ire, who instructed the members of the panels to resolve their disputes among themselves instead of approaching the media.
Deputy Mayor L Srinivas and Floor leader of the Council N Nagaraju were present at the meeting.