Non-payment of dues: BBMP files statement of objections

The BBMP submitted a statement of objections on Wednesday before the high court in response to a batch of petitions filed by contractors of pourakarmikas over non-payment of dues and invocation of the Essential Services Maintenance Act against them.

Justice Vineet Kothari was hearing a batch of petitions which sought quashing of June 17, 2016, and September 23, 2017, notifications.

The statement said June 17, 2016, notification declared services related to solid waste management as 'essential services' for the purpose of 'The Karnataka Essential Services Maintenance Act 2013 (ESMA).

The September 23 notification by the state government stated that persons working on the permanent or consolidated basis or contract basis, sanitation workers, auto drivers and compact loaders were directed not to hold any strikes for one year.

The petitioners had questioned these notifications.

Earlier, the court had directed the respondents not to take any precipitative action towards the implementation of the impugned notifications.

The BBMP stated that the petitioners have made reckless allegations against the joint commissioner, health and solid waste and the executive engineer of solid waste management.

The petitioners have alleged fraud and gross irregularities in payments on part of the BBMP without producing any evidence.

The Palike has also stated that all the bills up to November 2017 have been paid to the contractors and service providers.

It also stated that the state government passed an order on August 7, 2018, directing all the urban local bodies to pay the sanitation workers directly.
Biometrics were also installed and the sanitation workers have been registered to ensure smooth payment without any middlemen, it stated.

The Palike added that all the officers have been working to ensure collection of segregated waste daily and the service providers have moved the court with ulterior motives with an intention to arm-twist the BBMP.

The civic body also assured the court in the statement that the ESMA was framed to ensure that the essential services were not disturbed.

It sought for two weeks time to file compliance report and statement of objections in the other petitions.

The court said that was the last opportunity given to file the same and adjourned the matter to March 7.