Experts pick holes in BBMP's waste management

Bengaluru: Solid waste management experts claim that BBMP's allocation of auto tippers and solid waste compactors for various wards is arbitrary and not keeping in mind the waste generated by a particular ward.

It had in January floated RFP (Request for Proposal) for primary door-to-door collection and transportation of segregated wet waste, sanitary waste, street sweeping waste and secondary transportation of segregated wet and street sweeping waste.

But the absence of scientific method in the allocation of auto tippers and compactors to various wards has led to discrepancies and exposed Palike's inefficiency. BBMP said the carrying capacity of an auto tipper is 500 kg, while that of a compactor is 7.8 MT. In wards like Chickpet and Gandhinagara where the generation of waste is 7.8 tonnes and 12.5 tonnes respectively, 52 and 42 auto tippers have been allotted for the two wards, while the allocation of number of compactors goes up to five.

In comparison, Marathahalli generates 19.9 tonnes of waste, but only 35 auto tippers and three compactors have been allocated. In Hagadur, the generation of waste stands at 22.3 tonnes and only 32 auto tippers and four compactors are allotted.

Solid waste management expert Ram Prasad said, “The basic foundation of micro planning principles seems to be missing and discrepancies in simple mathematics is very disheartening. There are wards where generation of waste is more, but the allocation of auto tippers and compactors is low. There should be some formula and algorithm with which the calculation should have been done.”

The allocation of auto tippers and compactors in wards such as Sampangirama Nagar, Shantala Nagar, Hosahalli and SKR market are high and do not gel with the generation of waste, he added. “If the carrying capacity of vehicles has been specified by the Palike, then we believe it is the standard capacity for the entire city. Such absence of scientific mechanism results in the loss of state exchequer,” he added.