Kochi: Auditors have discovered that a refuse compactor, valued at approximately Rs 40 lakh and owned by the Kochi corporation, has been missing since 2023. The vehicle, bearing registration number KL 7 CA 7527, was sent to a workshop for repairs on January 25, 2023, prior to a fitness test. According to official records, it has remained at the workshop ever since. When auditors requested the local body officials to produce the vehicle, they were informed that it was “missing.”
What is a Refuse Compactor?
A refuse compactor is a specialized vehicle designed to crush and compress waste, significantly reducing its volume. This ensures optimized garbage storage and minimizes landfill space usage. It also helps save on transportation costs by allowing more waste to be transported in a single haul.
Abandoned and Wasted
A few days ago, the corporation discovered that the vehicle had been “abandoned” at the workshop and could no longer be used, effectively wasting Rs 40 lakh within a few years of its purchase. Auditors noted that this was not an isolated case. They found that 13 refuse compactors have been “abandoned.” Additionally, the corporation has been negligent with its fleet of around 200 vehicles, including trucks, cars, and jeeps, with poor maintenance and many vehicles lacking insurance.
Lack of Accountability
“Nobody in the corporation is accountable when it comes to the operation and maintenance of vehicles owned by the civic body. In 2018, we conducted a search after many vehicles reportedly went missing. During the inspection by councillors, many vehicles were found abandoned near workshops,” said C K Peter, a former councillor who participated in the inspection. “We then recommended that corporation authorities ensure proper maintenance of vehicles, besides setting up a workshop and employing a mechanical engineer for overall vehicle management,” Peter added.
Plans to Sell Off Vehicles
Meanwhile, corporation authorities are now planning to sell off vehicles that have become a financial burden due to frequent maintenance. “Poor maintenance of vehicles is a reality. Of the 15 refuse compactor trucks the corporation procured earlier, 13 require frequent maintenance. As refuse compactors are used for waste movement, they need proper cleaning to wash off leachate, which rusts vehicle parts. The hydraulic system also requires proper maintenance. Without proper cleaning and maintenance, they become a huge financial burden,” said Mayor V K Minimol. “Now, we are planning to sell off such vehicles,” she added.
Insurance Lapses and Long-Standing Issues
According to auditors, over 60 vehicles, including trucks and cars, did not have insurance when inspections were conducted for the 2024-25 audit. “Not just refuse compactors, we realized that 11 missing pickup autorickshaws have been lying in workshops for almost eight years,” said Minimol.
Fleet of Burden
- Kochi corporation has 30 refuse compactor trucks.
- The first batch of 15 refuse compactor trucks was bought almost a decade ago.
- Cochin Smart Mission Ltd procured the second batch of 15 trucks on Kochi corporation’s behalf.
- Garbage or leachate does not spill onto streets while being transported.
- A private firm is entrusted with the maintenance and operation of the second batch of 15 compactor trucks.
