Jamshedpur: Littered streets and overflowing garbage bins could well be a thing of the past in non-Tata Steel command areas with the local civic body installing GPS in vehicles engaged in cleaning work.
Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee (JNAC), which looks after civic affairs of over 3 lakh people, installed GPS vehicle tracking system in its fleet of 23 garbage vans this week.
"We installed a 3G SIM given by BSNL, as per an MoU with the state government, and have started the vehicle tracking system at our office. Now, it will be easy to locate vehicles and ensure they are following the daily cleaning roster and collecting garbage from vats as per schedule," said JNAC special officer Sanjay Kumar Pandey.
But the JNAC's move comes more than a year after Jusco adopted GPS. The Tata Steel subsidiary, which looks after civic amenities in Tata command areas, installed GPS in its fleet of garbage vans in February 2016.
Sources revealed that a survey had pointed out that nearly 70 tonne of waste was generated daily in JNAC areas that have been divided into three zones with four sanitary inspectors overseeing cleaning work.
"Earlier, we had to rely on a register maintained by drivers and there was no way of being sure if a vehicle had indeed collected garbage from all vats. Now, we can monitor the exact location of a particular vehicle and track its movements. It will be very useful for sanitary inspectors to keep a tab on the cleaning staff and private contractors," said JNAC city manager Shakil Mehdi, who is Swachh Bharat Abhiyan nodal officer.
The central monitoring station would be manned by a designated officer at the JNAC office in Sakchi and also by sanitary inspectors who would be cross-checking the fleet movement with the register. The system would also help civic officials to keep a tab on waste disposal at the particular place.
"We have given 3G SIMs which will help provide accurate location of the vans through GPS. This is part of our efforts under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. We will also provide 3G SIMs to all local urban bodies," said GM of BSNL Jamshedpur secondary switching area (SSA) Sanjeev Verma.
Will the new garbage vehicles ensure better cleanliness? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com
