GPS failure on PMC’s garbage transport fleet raises concerns of trash tracking, illegal dumping

Pune: GPS installed on garbage-carrying vehicles by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have developed faults within three months of installation, raising concerns about the monitoring of waste transportation and the possibility of illegal dumping.As per PMC data, 300 GPS trackers were installed on garbage-carrying vehicles, of which around 100 have reported technical issues.Citizen activists have alleged that the glitches may be deliberate, claiming that certain civic officials and contractors do not want the movement of garbage vehicles to be tracked. They have demanded an inquiry into how the GPS units became non-functional.“Waste is dumped unscientifically at several locations by transporters. The absence of proper monitoring enables such activities, and non-functional GPS systems only make it easier. It is surprising that the recently installed GPS units have stopped functioning. The authorities concerned must look into the issue and find the real reason for the systems to stop working. Civic officials who ignore illegal dumping cases should be held accountable,” said Vijay Kumbhar of Surajya Sangharsh Samiti, a citizens’ group.Residents claimed that inadequate monitoring has led to instances of open dumping at several locations. They also alleged that proper segregation of waste is often not carried out.“Many garbage-carrying vehicles ply without adhering to traffic rules. Drivers are often seen driving rashly and negligently. The authorities should closely monitor their operations,” said Teja Paranjape, a resident of Sinhagad Road.According to civic data, of the 944 vehicles engaged in waste transportation, around 626 are operated by the administration, while private contractors operate nearly 318 vehicles. All privately operated vehicles are required to be fitted with GPS. The carrying capacity of these vehicles ranges from three tonnes to 22 tonnes.Santosh Warule, head of PMC’s solid waste management department, told TOI that the civic body has taken note of the issue and is working on getting the systems fixed.“We have started repairing the tracking units. Most of them have already been fixed, and monitoring will improve significantly,” Warule said.Different payment models are used for waste transportation vehicles. Smaller vehicles are paid on a per-day basis, while larger vehicles are compensated on a per-tonne basis. Some operators are also paid according to the distance travelled. The fleet of transport vehicles, including large trucks and smaller garbage carriers, carries approximately 2,400 tonnes of waste every day.