Pourakarmikas will now "Cheque" it out

BENGALURU: The BBMP is all set to abolish the system of paying salaries to pourakarmikas by cash.Garbage contractors will be required to pay salaries to pourakarmikas by cheque. There are about 18,000 pourakarmikas working with private garbage collectors.

Bengaluru city in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy told ET this will be made part of the contract agreement, and would hopefully plug leaks. Pourakarmikas, who are on rolls with private garbage contractors, have been without salaries for the past two months after the civic body delayed release of contractual funds to contractors.

After coming under intense attack from elected representatives, the BBMP informed the High Court last week that it has re leased 118 crore toward meeting the salary obligation.

"We can afford to keep others waiting, but not pourakarmikas. In fact, the next time we float tenders for solid waste management, all pourakarmikas will have their own bank accounts and will be paid salaries via cheques. This will compel contractors to pay full salaries on time,“ Reddy said.

The BBMP has managed to convince the state government to divert about 118 crore from the CM's Nagarotthana scheme.