BJP demands probe into 'lapses' in purchase of 25 compactors

BJP has accused Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) of spending Rs 3.25 crore in excess on the purchase of 25 compactor vehicles, as part of solid waste management. 

According to Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ashwathanarayana and former deputy mayor S Harish there was no need for the BBMP to procure the compactors after awarding the contracts for waste collection and management  “BBMP has already submitted an affidavit before the High Court on awarding wardwise contracts. The contractors are already using 25-300 compactors across the city, depending on the population and the quantity of waste generated in the wards. This being the situation, the BBMP has spent Rs 8.87 crore to purchase 25 compactors. More than the price of the compactor, the BBMP has also agreed to pay Rs 1.92 crore for maintenance of each compactor which will cost Rs 9.62 crore per year. Besides, the tender rules stated that the BBMP will provide diesel for these compactors,'' MLC Ashwathanarayana said.

Former deputy mayor Harish said that despite having a Special Commissioner (Subodh Yadav) for Solid Waste Management, the BBMP is spending unnecessarily on compactors. “Earlier, the Palike had purchased mechanical sweeping machine and the pothole filling machine pythons. But the sweeping machines and the pythons are not being put to use effectively. We have obtained quotations from the same company which has supplied compactors to the BBMP. The quotation provided to us show that the BBMP has spent Rs 13 lakh extra on each machine and has also spent huge amount on maintenence. The BBMP commissioner recently said that there is plan to purchase 200 more compactors. The irregularities in the purchase of 25 compactors should be probed,'' Harish alleged.