22 months past deadline, garbage operators fail to remove bins

Nagpur: The deadline set by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had ended over 22 months ago, but the two garbage operators, BVG India Pvt Ltd and AG Enviro Infra Projects Pvt Ltd, are yet to remove all bins placed along roads and in residential localities.
Like in other cases, the civic body is not recovering fine and initiating action against the operators.
In a glaring violation of the contract, BVG India is using eight bins for storing highly-polluting garbage at its transfer station at Mahendra Nagar in North Nagpur.
In the contract, NMC had made the operators responsible for removing all secondary bins in the project area. “Their replacement is to be planned in such a way that within one year from the date of commencement of contract, all existing above ground bins/collection points are replaced. All existing bins shall be provided with e-chip identification code for monitoring and assured services by the operator,” NMC mentioned in the contract.
Two operators started services from November 2019 and were supposed to make the city free from bins by November 2020. Yet, a large number of bins can be seen on main roads and in residential localities.
NMC officials said a survey will be conducted, followed by action to remove the bins.
The operators were supposed to maintain the bins in a systematic manner for one year from the date of commencement of the contract. The operators also had to ensure garbage doesn’t spill over from bins and the area around them is kept clean.
Operators were also directed to wash and disinfect the bins once in a week. Penalty can be levied on daily basis for these violations.
A resident of Gorepeth said, “Garbage spills from the two bins installed on a road in the residential area. We have never seen any NMC worker cleaning or washing them. Garbage is thrown on the road probably because people avoid getting close to the bin due to the filth around. We have lodged many complaints but to no avail.”
Under Swachh Bharat Mission and Smart City Project, the NMC had installed small twin bins along main roads, especially on two sides of West High Court Road. The operators failed to collect garbage from these bins on a daily basis, and clean, wash and disinfect them.
BVG has also continued to dump garbage on surface layer causing pollution and violating the contract. On September 23, huge quantity of garbage was dumped at the transfer station at Mahendra Nagar which has schools and residential buildings around.
Office bearers of BVG India and AG Enviro did not respond to TOI’s messages.
Despite TOI reports on irregularities and violations by the two operators, NMC officials have continued to shield them. Also, nine months ago the NMC general body had decided to terminate the contract over various irregularities and violations.