KOCHI : The rental charges of Hitachi and JCB vehicles engaged since June last year have put a substantial burden on the Kochi corporation. As per the officials, the rent from June to December, came to around Rs 1 crore.
Peeved at the mounting expenses, Mayor M Anilkumar directed officials of the corporation’s health wing to promptly initiate the tendering process to engage the vehicles. The vehicles had been pressed into service following the Brahmapuram fire without floating tenders.
The matter came up for discussion during the corporation council meeting on Monday. UDF councillor Minimol said after the Brahmapuram fire outbreak last March, the health wing was asked to arrange Hitachi and JCB vehicles without going for tendering.
“Health officials continued to engage contractors without tendering after waste collection resumed in city. Before the fire, tender rates for renting vehicles at Brahmapuram were Rs 650 for JCB and below Rs 1,000 for Hitachi,” she said.
As per the reports submitted by the health wing, the vehicles operated for 80 hours from June 22 to August 1, averaging eight hours a day. “In August, the vehicles were reported to be operational for 10 hours a day. It is implausible to work the vehicles for the mentioned hours at Brahmapuram. Some officials, including councillors, colluded in awarding the work to the contractors,” Minimol said.