Bhubaneswar, Oct. 2: The collection and transportation of garbage to the landfill at Bhuasuni suffers every time it rains.

The single computerised weighbridge at the transit transfer station (TTS) near Sainik School breaks down after every downpour, sometimes as long as a week, thereby creating the problem.

The transit station is a point where the garbage collected by tractors from different wards is deposited after being weighed. The garbage is then transported to Bhuasuni on the city outskirts.

Whenever the weighbridge becomes dysfunctional, solid waste contractors are asked to use private weighbridges at the Mancheswar Industrial Estate.

"Every time we use the private weighbridges, located almost 2km from the TTS, we lose around two hours just in offloading the garbage at the dumping site. So, while a garbage carrying tractor can normally do four to five trips a day, it manages only two trips due to the delay," said a solid waste contractor.

In a single day, the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) handles over 400 metric tonnes of solid waste. "The amount goes up during and after the rainy season as de-silting work of the drains is undertaken during this period. However, with the computerised weighbridge breaking down so often, a second one is badly needed," said Gadakana councillor Sanjay Sethi.

"There should be a proper annual maintenance plan of the existing weighbridge as it is like an emergency service. The delay at the TTS has cascading effect on the garbage collection from the wards," said a leading solid waste contractor, Subhendu Mohapatra.

The civic body has already commissioned the installation of a second weighbridge.

An assistant engineer of the civic body said: "Two weighbridges are needed as one can be used as a backup. Moreover, if there were two weighbridges, one can first measure the gross weight of the vehicle with the garbage and the other can then measure the vehicle after dumping the waste. This way, the accurate weight of the garbage could be calculated correctly. With the installation of a second weighbridge, time consumed to collect garbage at the transit dumping yard would also come down."

"After trying to get a contractor to install the second weighbridge on two occasions in the past, we have finally selected one through the tender process to maintain the old weighbridge and install a new one. The work will start shortly," he said.

BMC executive engineer R.N. Mallick said: "I have taken charge of the areas under which the TTS comes very recently. I have to first take stock of the situation and understand the issues."