Continuity is what the MC leaves out

Decisions taken in one tenure of the Municipal Corporation seem to be forgotten as the next one starts. The proposal of the civic body to purchase machines for collection of leaves had been rejected by the councillors in the previous tenure. The same is once again doing the rounds with the demonstration of the machine held last week.

While time and again a need for having some mechanism in place to maintain continuity has been highlighted, little has come of it. This time, the MC is contemplating purchasing machines which was opposed by the councillors in the previous term of the civic body. The proposal has raised eyebrows with the previous councillors crying foul.

Former Congress councillor Chander Mukhi Sharma says that a demonstration of the machines was held in 2009 as well. However, the consensus was that there was no need to purchase the machines as the problem of leaves did not occur throughout the year. Instead, it was proposed that the machines could be hired for a few months every year. He adds that officials are quick to purchase machines.

The Municipal Corporation has over the years purchased several cleaning machines that have not solved the intended purpose. The mechanised sweeping machines procured from Italy at a cost of Rs 5 crore have been a failure. Prior to that, two machines for road cleaning were purchased from Noida. That too did not serve any purpose. In previous years, a machine, "Bob Cat", was purchased for cleaning of back lanes. Within a few months, it became redundant.

Kamlesh, who was the mayor at that time, says, "I have time and again raised the need for having a system in place that would ensure continuity. The outgoing team should prepare a booklet containing the decisions taken. The officers are on deputation and are repatriated when the tenure ends. The councillors are elected every five years."

She adds that the proposal to purchase the machines had earlier been rejected. Objections had also been raised by the management of the garbage processing plant to the proposal.

Of the previous lot of councillors, five were re-elected when elections were held in 2011. Of these, H C Kalyan is the chairman of the sanitation committee that saw the demonstration of the machine held recently. He says that he does not remember seeing the machines earlier. All the members of the sanitation committee will be shown the machine and after examining all aspects, a decision will be taken on its purchase, he adds.