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Nagole testing track, a ticking time bomb
The odour of rotting iron, mildew smell from the seats from seized autos and burning metals greet you at the Nagole testing track. Every day 10-25 autos are crushed and sold as scrap. However, what is worrisome is that the crushing of autos is not done as per industry standards.
With safety measures thrown to the wind, the scrap yard at Nagole testing track is posing danger to schools and residential complexes in the vicinity
The odour of rotting iron, mildew smell from the seats from seized autos and burning metals greet you at the Nagole testing track. Every day 10-25 autos are crushed and sold as scrap. However, what is worrisome is that the crushing of autos is not done as per industry standards.
With no fire safety approvals, mechanism to detect radioactive material and proper disposal of parts the residential apartments and schools adjoining the centre stand at risk.Madhav of Bhavyas School says, “The nauseating smell from the scrap yard is affecting the students and there is a possibility of a mishap. Gas welding is used to cut the metal and there is a chance of a fire spreading as hundreds of vehicles including cars, trolleys and tempos are parked in the yard.”
Ever since the government ban on permits to new autos in 2002, auto owners are issued a new permit once their old auto goes into scrap but Nagole is the only one place in the city allotted for scrapping autos. C Chandrasekhar, organising secretary, Telangana Auto Trade Union, says, “Efficient recycling of scrap is a major issue.
The department did not call for tenders. Since 2004, only one contractor has been given the job. On certain days, 25-30 autos come for scrapping. Apart from the safety issue one contractor is not enough to do the job.”
Auto scrap, big business
The weight of an auto is 610 kg and the scrap rate is Rs 16 per kg but at the Nagole scrap yard, the auto owners are given just Rs 3,000. The contractor makes anywhere between Rs 12,000-Rs 14,000 on each auto as he sells the engine, seats, tyres, drums, gas cylinders, gas kit and other minor parts separately. On an average 15 autos are brought to the scrap yard every day.
Raghuram, an auto driver, says, “We have asked the department several times to have more than one centre but to no avail.” As per the rules, the scrapping of autos needs to be done in the presence of a motor vehicle inspector and as Nagole is the only designated place in the city, all autos need to get here. No proceedings for scrapping of autos are given to the Ranga Reddy district.
Repeated attempts to contact officials of the RTA proved futile. Chandrasekhar says, “The commissioner did not issue a letter of authority till date for the contractor to take up the cutting job. Also there is no display of the rate of scrap per kg.” Several auto unions have petitioned the department to call for a tender and allot the scrapping work but no action was taken.
By:T P Venu
