32 months on, NMC operators fail to lift garbage from houses daily

Nagpur: Even after 32 months of being in service, two door-to-door garbage collection operators — AG Enviro Infra Projects Private Ltd and BVG India — have failed to lift waste from all households on a daily basis. Despite this, the civic body has not initiated action against the firms for reasons best known to officials.
Moreover, the civic administration has continued with the two operators despite a decision by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s general body to oust them for failing to fulfil the contractual obligations.
Activist Abhijitsingh Chandel told TOI that recently staff of BVG India did not turn up for seven days to collect garbage from a few houses in Punjabi Line near Gaddigodam on Kamptee Road. “It was only after my post on social media that NMC official took cognizance and a garbage collection vehicle reached the houses,” he said.
Another young activist Rohit Yadav said, “Citizens from Bhim Nagar, Nara, Jaripatka, Kasturba Nagar, Om Nagar, Mangalmurti Society etc in North Nagpur have never seen garbage collection on daily basis. BVG staff come once in three or four days. They refuse to lift garbage from houses in unauthorized slums along the railway track. People dump garbage along the track and wherever they find open space. The piles of garbage are causing severe health hazard in many localities.”
Former standing committee chairman Vijay Zalke said vehicles of AG Enviro visit our locality in South Nagpur once in five days to collect garbage. “Garbage collection vehicles visit the area regularly only for a couple of days after complaints are lodged with NMC officials and then revert to the irregular schedule again,” he said.
A resident of Subhash Nagar in South-West Nagpur Vidya Pachbudhe said AG Enviro staff has not turned up in the area for the last four days. “Otherwise, garbage is collected on alternate days. We have never seen garbage being lifted on daily basis since the appointment of AG Enviro. Garbage should be collected daily to prevent spread of vector-borne diseases. Flies and mosquitoes swarm houses if garbage is not disposed of daily. NMC should ensure all the waste is lifted daily, at least during monsoon,” she said.
Former corporator Sanjay Balpande said residents in many parts of Central Nagpur are facing serious problems due to BVG India lifting garbage only once in four days. “Worst affected areas in my ward are Hansapuri Khadan, Nanbachi Dob, Khadan School premises, locality near Khan Masjid etc,” he said.
Former corporator Pradip Pohane said similar is the experience of residents in proposed Smart City area of Pardi, Punapur, Bharatwada etc in East Nagpur.
As per contract, it is mandatory for the operators to lift garbage daily from all households, that too before 2pm. The civic body is supposed to levy fine and initiate action in case of complaints.
Taking note of the operators not lifting garbage on daily basis, inquiry committee of the general body had recommended termination of the contracts. However, the administration did not act on it.
NMC officials claim regular monitoring is being done and action taken. “We will ensure there is no negligence by the operators in this regard.”
Officials from AG Enviro did not respond to TOI’s call and messages.
Refuting the allegations, Ramakant Bhombe from BVG India said there were some issues only in couple of areas of Central Nagpur in the last two days as 26 vehicles had developed snag. “BVG is ensuring daily collection from 100% households, commercial shops etc,” he claimed.