6 months on, SMC fails to recruit drivers for garbage-lifting vehicles

Srinagar, Sep 22: Over 200 garbage lifting small-size trucks called ‘Hooper’ are lying untouched for the past six months in the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) owned yard near Aloochi Bagh area of uptown Srinagar.
These trucks had been procured by SMC to lift the solid waste material from the interiors of Srinagar city, but due to the non-availability of drivers, these vehicles have not been used for the required services and are lying where they were parked six months ago.
Insiders at SMC said that authorities are pressurizing the Ward Officers to identify those ‘Sweepers’ who can drive these vehicles so that they can be used to lift garbage from different wards of Srinagar city.
Sources added that not a single ‘Sweeper’ has shown a willingness to drive these small-size trucks so for.
“We are being scolded by top officials in every meeting. I had even identified some ‘Sweepers’ for the job but they don’t possess driving licenses. How can a Ward Officer get driving licenses for these ‘Sweepers’ when they don’t have one and even are not skilled drivers,” one of the Ward Officers said on condition of anonymity.
Insiders added that SMC is reluctant to go for a fresh recruitment drive due to insufficient budget. SMC is keen to avail the services of existing employees and for that matter, it is directing ward officers to identify the ‘Sweepers’ who possess driving licenses and are skilled drivers.
“Majority of the ‘Sweepers’ deployed in different wards are amateur drivers without any driving license. Still, if any Sweeper knows the driving and possesses the driving license, he is reluctant to take up the new job. Top officers are shrugging their shoulders and pressurizing ward officers,” said an SMC employee.
Efforts to contact Commissioner SMC, Athar Aamir Khan didn’t materialize as he didn’t pick up the phone. (KNT)