Civic body rolls out hydraulic garbage vehicles to overcome manpower shortage
The Statesman | 5 January 2026
Amid a politically sensitive retrenchment drive that has triggered sustained agitation by casual workers, the Krishnagar municipality has moved to overhaul its solid waste management system, announcing the induction of hydraulic container vehicles in all 25 wards with the stated aim of eliminating permanent garbage vats across the town.
Municipal administrator Sharadwati Chowdhury on Monday said the decision was part of a larger plan to ensure uninterrupted conservancy services despite the recent downsising of the workforce. “I have ordered 25 hydraulic container vehicles for 25 wards. By this week, 10 vehicles will be delivered and deployed in 10 wards. The remaining 15 will be provided by 20 January,” Ms Chowdhury said. Each ward, she added, would initially be assigned one vehicle, though the municipality plans to procure another 25 vehicles to ensure smoother and faster garbage clearance.
The administrator made it clear that the long-term objective was to move away from the practice of fixed garbage vats within the municipal limits. “We are giving pace to our efforts so that garbage is not dumped anywhere inside the municipal area in the near future. We are looking for a clean town,” she said.
According to municipal sources, each hydraulic container vehicle costs approximately Rs 2.5 lakh. The total expenditure for procuring 50 such vehicles is estimated at Rs 1.25 crore. Officials argued that the investment would not only improve hygiene and public health but also reduce dependence on a large number of manual workers, a point that has become contentious in the wake of the retrenchment.
At present, the Krishnagar municipality has a workforce of around 650 employees in the conservancy department. Ms Chowdhury maintained that the existing manpower was adequate and that there was “no major issue” affecting conservancy services across the town. However, residents in some prominent localities complained that daily garbage lifting had been irregular in recent days.
Responding to these complaints, the administrator said the municipality had put in place a grievance redressal mechanism. “We have advertised a special number to lodge complaints, and anyone can use it. Apart from this, we are trying to resolve issues as quickly as possible,” she said, asserting that lapses, if any, were being addressed promptly.
The administrative push, however, unfolded against the backdrop of continuing unrest among retrenched workers. As many as 356 casual workers, who were recently laid off as part of what the municipality has described as a drive to eliminate “overloaded” and irregular appointments, continued their agitation in front of the municipal office demanding immediate absorption.
Tension flared on Monday morning when a group of agitating workers allegedly attempted to block permanent employees from entering the municipal premises. The situation escalated briefly, prompting intervention by the Kotwali police. A scuffle ensued before the police dispersed the protesters from the main gate and restored access to the building.
Downplaying the impact of the incident, Ms Chowdhury said municipal work had not been disrupted. “There was no influence on the normal functioning of the municipality. All staff managed to enter by 11 am, and normalcy in work was restored,” she said.