The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has taken the Navi Mumbai route and decided to fix radio frequency identification (RFID) tags to garbage bins to track garbage removal in four wards. Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has been using RFID tag in garbage bins for long.
The BMC standing committee approved a proposal to use attach RFID tags to garbage bins in R (north, south and central) and T wards, as a pilot project. It will be executed in an inclusive manner, which will entail providing garbage bins, lifting the trash, and carrying it to the dumpyard, too. All of this will be done by a single party. DNA had first reported about this project in March last year.
"This will make contractors more responsible and we will be able to track the garbage through the RFID tag," said a senior official from BMC's Solid Waste Management (SWM). If the proposed method proves successful, the civic body will implement it in T ward.
"All vehicles that will carry garbage will be equipped with a GPS system to track if garbage is being dumped at the right place. Information on the movements of the vehicle will be just a click away," said the official.
At present, the whole process is carried out by multiple contractors and this lead to issues at various stages. "The same model has been adopted by Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation and has proved quite successful," said the official.
At present, around 700 metric tonnes of garbage is generated in all three R wards. And, around 300 civic workers are involved in the work. "Despite investing money and manpower, garbage lifting remains an issue," said the official. He added that the new model will make contractors more responsible.
Proposal for the seven-year contract worth Rs 550 crore was cleared amid ruckus during the standing committee meet. Initially, the civic standing committee members opposed the move to let a private party do all the work. However, the proposal was later cleared by Shiv Sena and Congress members.
PILOT PROJECT
The BMC standing committee approved a proposal to use attach RFID tags to garbage bins in R (north, south and central) and T wards, as a pilot project.
