The mechanized sweeping of Dhanbad roads launched amidst much fanfare during December last year after procuring five dust sweeping machines by the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore, is slated to be discontinued due lack of six months’ worth of payment to the agency hired for operating the vehicles.
Representatives of Pay and Clean were hired to operate five machines, including three truck mounted large dust sweeping machines and two van mounted small machines procured through Roots Multiclean Limited, supplier of cleaning products in India.
The representatives have written to the DMC several times with regard to pending payments obstructing the proper maintenance and servicing of the machines due to lack of resources.
Talking to The Telegraph Online, a representative of the agency requesting anonymity said, “We not only face lack of payment, but also faced lack of other basic infrastructure like electricity and water supply for carrying out the regular serving and maintenance of machines”
“The proper functioning of machines depend on regular servicing and maintenance but we are facing a lot of difficulty in this regard,” he said.
“During the signing of the agreement with DMC for the operation of machines it was agreed that the machines will operate for six days in a week, but now, we are asked to operate it only four days, leading to thick layers of dirt deposits during the gap days. Such layers are tough to remove,” said the representative, adding that they want technical support for the smooth operation of machines
He said the arrangement could be made for operating the machines for around 145 kms per day instead of 200 kms.
Company sources say a bill of around Rs 6 lakhs per month is to be paid as the machines remained operational from December 6 to March 23 and remained non-functional during the lockdown, resuming from June 12 with only 50% efficiency of two machines.
“We are being told about the lack of funds as a reason for the delay in payment but we can’t understand why the administration and government can’t make arrangements for such crucial things using the District Mineral Development Trust Fund (DMFT) which is meant for the development of mining zones” said agency representatives.
Dhanbad Municipal Commissioner, Chandramohan Kashyap in his brief reply said, “The dust sweeping machines are operational and the issue of payment is under process. Payments will be made upon arrival of the funds.”