Porsche

Mercedes Benz cars

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike

BBMP

German company

bins

A copy of the work order

Why are these bins being imported from Germany? Are they parts of a Benz car? It is after all a metal bin. Such metals are available in plenty in Shivajinagar – Mayor Goutham Kumar

You’ve seen scams. But believe it or not...Most people importandfrom Germany. Butis so posh that it’s importing trash cans from Germany.Investigations into the scientific bin deal have revealed that thepaid 55 Cr to an Indian company and ato import 400 scientificat the cost of approx. Rs 3 lakhs for a metal bin.And this despite Karnataka being the largest producer of iron ore in India.BBMP’s payment of Rs 55 Cr went not just to Zonta Infratech but also to a German company, Bauer Gmbh, which had formed a consortium to bid for the project.The BBMP issued a work order for Rs 55 Cr which was divided into four components. The BBMP would pay Rs 11.85 Cr for the supply and installation of bins at 200 locations at the cost of Rs 5.92 lakh for each location, Rs 4.48 Cr for the supply of 8 trucks at Rs 56 lakh each, Rs 5.12 Cr for Operation and Maintenance and Rs 33.81 Cr for Emptying and Transportation of waste for five years.The bins measured 1.5 cubic metre in width, 2.5 cubic metre in height and 30 litres in volume.The deal looks fishy when it becomes clear that the same German supplier installed those bins for Rs 1.5 lakh each for his other clients in Europe but the BBMP paid Rs 5.92 lakh for a pair.According to the proposal submitted by Zonta Infratech to BBMP on Bauer Gmbh’s (Germany) previous work orders (for the same specs), Bauer had installed about 135 bins at the cost of 167,150 Euros (Rs 96,575 per each bin) in Rotterdam city in Netherlands, 105 bins for 1,76,569 Euros (Rs 1.31 lakh per bin) in Wirtschaftsbetriebe Dusburg (Service company), 100 bins for 1,24,757 Euros (Rs 97,310 per bin) in Rotterdam and 59 bins for 1,09,458 Euros (Rs 1.44 lakh per bin) in Wirtschaftsbetriebe Dusburg. (All figures calculated at the conversion rate of one Euro is equal to Rs 78.)Interestingly, the German company that was part of the consortium, had completed these works just a year before becoming the finalized bidder for BBMP’s project. The BBMP’s rule book says any contractor should have at least five years’ work experience. A condition that has been violated in this deal.Zonta had attended the pre-bid meeting for the project and later formed a consortium with the German company in 2017 and then participated for the bid for the work order.It’s is being alleged that the BBMP officials, while handing over the work, did not adhere to the guidelines of the Urban Development Department (UDD). The UDD had asked the BBMP to negotiate the price that was being quoted by Zonta and which was eventually finalized by the BBMP.An official from BBMP who did not want to be named said, “First of all, those 200 locations have not been identified and nobody knows where they are.The companies were allowed to become partners during the pre-bid meeting which is laughable. Till now there is no operation and maintenance and nobody has seen those eight trucks that the BBMP is claiming they have paid for.”However, in a shocking stand against the deal, Mayor Goutham Kumar admitted that there have been violations. “There have been several violations in this deal. How can the BBMP pay Rs 6 lakh for two bins when it cost between Rs 1 - 1.5 lakh in other European cities? Meanwhile the tender had said that no consortium of companies would be permitted to bid but these conditions were not adhered to. Meanwhile I want to know on what basis the BBMP officials fixed the amount at Rs 6 lakh and Rs 56 lakh per truck even without doing a detailed study on it.”Meanwhile Mayor Goutham Kumar questioned the idea behind calling them scientific bins. “These bins are being installed along footpaths blocking the path for pedestrians. How can they be called scientific? In my ward, these bins have been installed on the footpath and they’re causing blackspots and obstructing people’s movement. The whole deal is very suspicious. I have already written to the government to probe this matter and take action against corrupt officials and the company,” he said.Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, Raj Kumar, Managing Director of Zonta said that since these bins were imported from Germany they cost more. “The cost of each bin is about 3,500 Euros (Rs 3 lakh). Above this, we have to pay 30% customs duty and then assemble and install it. This is not the price just in Bengaluru but we have quoted the same price in 20 Indian cities. We have now established our plant in Peenya and we are manufacturing it here. We have installed these bins and we have been paid. There is no irregularity in this project. Mayor Goutham Kumar inspected it and did not seem to have any complaints then,” said Kumar.Meanwhile Mayor Goutham Kumar wondered aloud, “Why are these bins being imported from Germany? Are they parts of a Benz car ? It is after all a metal bin. Such metals are available in plenty in Shivajinagar. They can source it from there and manufacture it. This is all rubbish and I feel this is a scam,” he said.