GHMC’s rickety, broken-down vehicles

All is not well with the transport section of the GHMC. Although over 900 vehicles, big and small, are supposed to be employed in the delivery of civic services, the system of using ‘outsourced’ vehicles appears to be fundamentally flawed, considering the mounting maintenance charges and fuel costs without tangible, corresponding benefits across the city. The GHMC vehicles use Rs 61 crore worth of diesel, while the allocation is only Rs 25 crore a year.

We come across rickety, broken-down and stinking GHMC vehicles carrying garbage, watering plants on road medians, catching dogs or performing other civic duties. Yet, few would believe that for the sake of these vehicles crores of rupees are spent month after month and misused on the pretext of rising fuel costs, regular maintenance and outsourcing.

According to the GHMC’s transport wing chief, there are currently 948 vehicles of various makes with GHMC and the Commissioner, in a recent statement, said that 30,000 litres of diesel is being used every day for operating these vehicles.

Hike in diesel price has become common these days. The most recent hike was effected on September 1 when the price of diesel went up to Rs 56.65 per litre. Going by what the Commissioner said, for diesel alone GHMC spends Rs 61.18 crore per annum. The annual maintenance of vehicles with GHMC costs Rs 27.4 cr per annum. While the outgo on these two major heads adds up to Rs 88.58 crore, the allocation to the Transport Department under the GHMC budget is only Rs 25 crore.

Although the GHMC’s claims suggest that all its 948 vehicles are roadworthy, C Srinivas, corporator, Ward 33, alleges that not all of the vehicles are actually being put into use and that there are some malpractices with regard to the use of diesel. In fact, there was a scam pertaining to the years 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 in this regard, which involved GHMC being defrauded of amounts adding up to Rs 100 cr. The case is being probed by the state vigilance department.

Experts say that when the department is spending and losing out so much on the existing vehicles, why not adopt the Mumbai model where garbage clearance has been privatised.

Nagaraj, Chief Transport Officer, GHMC, says: “Yes, we have started outsourcing vehicles. More than 90% of the vehicles that we employ are outsourced and the agencies operating them are paid on kilometre basis. Their maintenance is a major hassle for us, because of the jobs that they do. When they lift garbage, both wet and dry, there is bound to be some oxidation in the truck’s metal body. And that takes a toll on the vehicle’s life. That is why a lot of money is invested in their maintenance. Fuel prices are not in our hands though.”

On the pros and cons of the corporation using owned vehicles, he said, “Buying new vehicles is like owning a white elephant. For GHMC, the job becomes easier if we outsource the vehicles and the manpower that goes with them.”

Corporator Srinivas did raise a question in this regard at the general body meeting of the GHMC on September 23. Unfortunately, the topic was dismissed on the ground that it was “not the forum for such discussion”.

Srinivas, however, shared with Hyderabad Hans, “They (GHMC) expect us to believe that all of their vehicles are being used daily. Granting that, they are consuming 30,000 litres of diesel on a daily basis. What about the 100-150 trucks that are always under repairs? It is all a gross misuse of public money.”