Change hint in waste system

A compactor truck of the SMC. File picture

TT, Siliguri, Feb. 9: North Bengal development minister Gautam Deb today said the system of garbage collection in Siliguri town was "experiencing a transition" and once the new arrangement was in place, it would run smoothly.

Deb who held a meeting on disposal of civic waste at Kiran Chandra Bhawan here this afternoon spoke about sophisticated equipment and vehicles that had been bought by the civic body for Rs 7.26 crore allocated by the municipal affairs department.

"We have already received 16 vehicles, most of which are fitted with sophisticated equipment. Another 20 vehicles, including some equipment, will arrive by February 16. The 16 vehicles have been already pressed into service," Deb said. "The entire system of garbage collection and disposal in Siliguri is experiencing a transition. There might be some hiccups, as it initially occurs in case of a change made in any system, but eventually, the new system will start functioning smoothly."

He added: "Residents have already seen functioning of these sophisticated machines, like compactors, and they will soon find that the garbage is being collected and disposed in a much better manner than the earlier system."

Nine hydraulic trippers or dump trucks, five excavators and two compactors have been recently engaged by the Siliguri Municipal Corporation. After February 16, Deb claimed, there would be more hydraulic trippers, suction machines and excavators with the civic body.

The minister, however, did not say what the SMC would do to clear dues of private truck owners who had stopped plying vehicles for collection and disposal of garbage since last week.

Since February 4, a day after Deb introduced 16 vehicles for conservancy works, owners of 60-odd private dump trucks have stopped operating their vehicles, which were given to the civic body on rent, for collection of garbage. The SMC has not paid them since April last year as a result of which, the total dues have reached to around Rs 4 crore. The truck owners had said unless the dues were cleared, they would not engage their vehicles for waste disposal.

According to SMC sources, Siliguri produces around 3.5 metric tonnes of garbage everyday.

Now, 16 new vehicles and 20-odd trucks, all owned by the SMC, are working for garbage disposal.

Speaking on development works planned for Siliguri, Deb said the municipal affairs department was spending Rs 2.97 crore in slums of the town to improve drainage, roads and other infrastructure.

"Another Rs 33 crore has been sanctioned by NBDD (north Bengal development department) for development projects in non-slum areas of Siliguri. A major portion of this fund would be used to repair and build new roads in the civic area. Today, we inaugurated a new and important road connecting Gurungbusty to Milan More. Also, a meeting of the high-power committee (comprising officials of NBDD, SJDA and SMC) would be held on February 12 to discuss the project of developing an amusement park at the dumping ground (off the Eastern Bypass)."