Hyderabad: It needed the loss of precious lives for the GHMC authorities to realise how dangerous their garbage truck drivers can get, following which the GHMC decided to introduce breath analyser equipment at all temporary dumping yards and at Jawaharnagar, to check if private drivers are under alcohol influence.
The drunk driver that killed four of a family at Tirumalgherry, had disposed the waste at Jawaharnagar and returning when the accident occurred. Earlier too, GHMC truck drivers killed commuters but no action was taken.
Apart from booking a criminal case against the driver, the contractor was never blacklist. There has been repeated complaints against hired garbage truck drivers with regard to rash driving, wrong turns and even open top garbage travel. A senior officer from Hyderabad traffic wing said, “Firstly, the vehicles are badly maintained with many of them without parking or rare lights. there is no system in place to check the drivers. The department receives many complaints on garbage dropping during travel. Besides, the vehicles are painted in dark blue colour without any radiant spray work or indicators. It becomes difficult for commuters, especially at night, to spot the vehicles.
The GHMC transport wing allocates the job to dispose of the waste through contractors. The drivers are hired by the contractors. The Road Transport Authority does not check the GHMC garbage trucks as they belong to a government department. Most of the garbage vehicles are over 15 years old. The transport department had issued notices to the GHMC asking it to either replace them or operate them elsewhere. According to rules transport vehicles which have completed 15 years of service should either be replaced or operated outside the GHMC area. GHMC’s vehicles are mainly parked at Kavadiguda, Khairatabad and Malakpet.
