NMC's contractor 'earning big bucks' from unfit vehicles

[karira]

As reported by Vijay Pinjarkar of TNN in timesofindia.indiatimes.com on 19 July 2008:
NMC's contractor 'earning big bucks' from unfit vehicles-Nagpur-Cities-The Times of India

NMC's contractor 'earning big bucks' from unfit vehicles

NAGPUR: Private firm, Centre for Development Communication (CDC), Nagpur, who is engaged by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) in transportation of garbage, has been paid over Rs 15 crore in the past four years for doing business with the help of unfit and road unworthy vehicles, risking people's lives.

Details sought by International Society for Road Transport and Safety (ISRTS), Nagpur, under the RTI Act 2005, have revealed that between November 17, 2004 and April 15, 2008, NMC paid over Rs 15 crore for loading and unloading of garbage through 60 NMC vehicles, which did not have fitness certificates, mandatory as per section 56 of the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA) 1988.

The NMC had failed to obtain these certificates for the past five years and operated road unworthy vehicles risking lives of people. Interestingly, record shows that the fitness certificates were given to 70 vehicles by RTO inspectors in one go.

According to Tushar Mandlekar, secretary, ISRTS, says, "Under MVA, a vehicle ceases to be registered as per section 39 if it does not have the valid fitness certificates. Thus, NMC's garbage lifting vehicles were unregistered and entire business of the company is illegal and is complete breach of provisions of Motor Vehicles Act (MVA).

The present contract needs to be scrapped immediately." He charged the CDC with breaching contract conditions and has held NMC responsible for still continuing the contract. The two-year contract was signed in 2004.

The contract (copy of which is with the TOI), signed between CDC and NMC, clearly states: "The vehicles should be road worthy and shall be maintained in a good condition. If the contractor failed to do the same, the vehicles will not be accepted by the staff and will be debarred for driving." But still there is no improvement in these vehicles and are still on the road posing threat to residents.

The RTO officials have failed to take action against these vehicles.

Meanwhile, when contacted, Ujjwal Lanjewar, incharge of NMC's mechanical workshop, Great Nag Road, pleaded his ignorance in the matter and refused to comment. Speaking to TOI, Dr Milind Ganvir, health officer, said, "The CDC contract has been extended by the standing committee and I've no role to play. The amount that has been paid to the company is towards the work of lifting garbage and I don't find any violations."