Amber beacon being used in cleaning vehicles against norms

Ishrat S Banwait

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Mohali, June 29

Flashlights and amber beacons are being used for two sweeping machines and eight mini-tippers used to maintain cleanliness in violation of the norms in Mohali.  While the sweeping machines are used to sweep the city in the night, the mini-tippers are used to ferry dustbins during the day.

The contractor, Sunil Singh, who was engaged by the Municipal Corporation (MC) for the work last year, said he was instructed to do so by the authorities. “The beacons and flashlights are being used in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Transport Department and are meant to make these slow moving vehicles visible from afar in the night,” he added.

District Transport Officer (DTO) Karan Singh said, “The government notification allows the use of flashlights for such vehicles. They come under the category of recovery vehicles.” According to the manufacturer’s website, these machines are capable of sweeping and suction but can’t be used as recovery vehicles.

The April 2014 notification of the state government authorises ambulances, vaccine carrier vehicles, fire and emergency services vehicles, disaster management vehicles and recovery vehicles, checking squads of the Motor Vehicles Department and the traffic police, PCR vehicles, VIP escort vehicles and patrol cars to use multi-coloured (red and blue) flashlight bars and console.

The vehicles are owned by a private company, Lion Services Limited, which has been assigned a five-year contract to maintain cleanliness by the MC. A control room to monitor the work has also been set up at the MC office. Municipal Commissioner Uma Shankar Gupta, however, remained unavailable for comments.

Deputy Commissioner DS Mangat refused to comment on the issue, referring the query to the transport authorities.