Garbage lifters raise a stink in city

*Beneficiaries allege that 900 of the 1,600 Swachh auto-trolley tippers were sanctioned to family members of local political leaders and cleaning contractors .
*GHMC officials accused of denying auto trolleys to sanitation workers despite paying principle amount and submitting necessary documents.
*Delay in handing over vehicles is resulting in huge interest outflow on loan amounts, mostly borrowed from private money lenders.

Hyderabad: Scores of applicants in the 24 circles of GHMC limits are crying foul over the undue delay in handing over Swachh auto-trolley tipper vehicles despite having paid the prescribed amount and submitting necessary documents.

Several sanitation workers alleged that despite making payment (Rs 41,000 for SC/ST beneficiaries and Rs 82,000 for BC beneficiaries) out of the total Rs 4 lakh amount, the newly introduced auto-tippers, launched by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, were sanctioned to local political leaders and cleaning contractors.

Speaking to The Hans India, C Ramakanth, a BC beneficiary from Kapra division said that despite having paid the principle amount of Rs 82,000, which is 20 per cent of about Rs 4 lakh in October last, he was being made to run from pillar to post to get his auto-trolley sanctioned.

“Officials are busy making excuses and passing on the buck to other officials even though the required documents sought by the civic body are in place," he rued.

Another eligible SC beneficiary, M Natheem, who hails from LB Nagar division said he had borrowed money from a local moneylender in order the pay the principle amount. "I borrowed Rs 41,000 from the local money lender on huge interest with a three months agreement. Despite providing documents including my driving licence and community and nativity certificate, I am yet to receive an auto-tipper."

"Three generations in my family eke out livelihood by segregating garbage after transporting it in tricycles. The local leaders are influencing GHMC officials to hand over these new auto-tippers to their family members, who are non-residents of Hyderabad and hail from other neighbouring states,” Natheem said.

Another garbage collector Vinay Kumar from Amberpet division said even after providing driving licence and paying challan amount, officials denied him an auto-trolley because he did not submit his PAN card. "I do not know what a PAN card is. But when enquired I was told that it is used for tax deductions. For daily wage workers like me I do not know the purpose of a PAN card," he said.

"How can Chief Minister KCR's dream of keeping the city clean come true if the purpose of providing Swachh autos is not served," asked Kishore, a sanitation worker from Shalibanda division. Nearly, 1,600 auto trolley tippers have been distributed, mostly to the non-sanitation workers who do not have any knowledge in lifting and transporting of garbage. "There is no visible change in the clearance of garbage in several circles only because of this reason," he added.

When GHMC officials were asked for their response to allegations levelled by the beneficiaries, they said that they had received about 5,000 applications, mostly from rickshaw pullers. "There are only 2,500 auto tippers and they have been distributed on a first-come first-serve basis.

So far, we have distributed 1,600 auto-trolley tippers. Those who are complaining now are late comers. We have informed them that their applications were under process and they would have to wait for some more time," said a senior official.

He, however, admitted that they were indeed some discrepancies in the auto-trolley tipper distribution. He said, "In order to control some of the beneficiaries from seeking out-of-turn allotment, we have been delaying the process to ensure transparency."

GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy said that they there would be no compromise in the sanctioning of auto-trolley tippers to existing sanitation rickshaw pullers. He said first preference would be given to sanitation workers and rickshaw pullers.

Maddy Deekshith

(The names of beneficiaries have been changed on request)