Micro cleaning: Four rickshaws, three vans to help lift trash in District East

DMC will increase number of vehicles if Sindh government provides grant

KARACHI: If you are a resident of District East, you may come across orange rickshaws and Suzuki vans with a small container attached to them lifting trash in the district from today (Wednesday).

In District Municipal Corporation (DMC) East, four rickshaws and three Suzuki vans have been brought to lift trash from areas where large trucks cannot reach.

According to a press statement issued by DMC East, the Suzuki vans can lift up to 1,000 kilogrammes (kg) of trash whereas the rickshaws can lift up to 400kg.

"From today, these rickshaws and Suzuki vans will go to those areas of the district where trucks cannot reach to lift garbage," said DMC East solid waste director Iqbal Ahmed.

Trash on Tariq Road cannot be lifted due to the heavy traffic, shared Ahmed. "These rickshaws will now easily go to Tariq Road and lift all the trash," he said, adding that PIB Colony, University Road, Lines Area, Manzoor Colony, Ghosia Colony and Mehmoodabad will be cleaned through the use of these new vehicles as well.

Meanwhile, DMC East elected chairperson Moeed Anwar told The Express Tribune that these rickshaws will go inside the narrow streets of the district. Every morning, the trash will be lifted from the sides of the overhead bridges, he added.

The idea to bring these small vehicles to clean the district came before they took office, according to Anwar. However, he said, that it could not be implemented. The present number of rickshaws and Suzuki vans is not enough for the entire district, he said, adding that if the Sindh government gave them a grant, then they will increase the number of vehicles.



The cost of the Suzuki vans is Rs1.2 million and the rickshaws Rs0.4 million, said Anwar. If the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) becomes active in the future, these vehicles can be handed over to them, he said, adding that there is an agreement according to which the SSWMB will have to purchase 70% of the vehicles used for garbage collection from the DMCs and take 20% on rent.

Trash lifting process

The rickshaws have been prepared in Karachi, while the Suzuki vans have been brought from Lahore, informed Ahmed, adding that the rickshaws have a hydraulic box attached to it, just beneath the container to lift the garbage.

The sweeper has to lift the lever attached to the hydraulic box with which the container is inclined, said Ahmed. The whole process is manual and doesn't require any fuel, he said adding that the Suzuki vans' container inclines with a battery.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 28^th, 2016.