BSWML goes to cops after contractors use same IP address to submit garbage disposal bids

Bengaluru: Bengaluru Solid Waste Management Ltd (BSWML) has filed a police complaint against "unnamed" contractors, suspecting collusion and rigging in 89 tenders related to garbage disposal. 

The BSWML, a government entity set up to regulate garbage management in the city, filed the complaint at the Halasuru Gate station police following allegations that many bidders had formed a cartel and used the same IP address to participate in the tendering process. 

Before approaching the police, the BSWML first wrote to the state's E-Procurement Cell for information on the IP addresses, time and date of bids submitted by all bidders who participated in the tenders of collection and transportation (C&T) of garbage. The cell shared the date and timings of the bids received, but added that it does not have the data on IP addresses of the bidders. 

Sources sSources said the police complaint was filed for further investigation on the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar as his office had received the first complaint with a set of allegations against the C&T tenders. aid the police complaint was filed for further investigation on the instructions of Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar as his office had received the first complaint with a set of allegations against the C&T tenders. 

In January 2023, the BBMP’s solid waste management arm floated tenders to collect segregated wet, dry and sanitary waste from households and small commercial establishments in 243 wards (the number of wards has been reduced to 225). The work was divided into 89 packages. The service provider has to deploy new compartmentalised vehicles to collect the waste daily. 

The tenders, however, faced allegations of collusion among bidders as the price quoted by the contractors were 12% to 40% higher than the BBMP’s estimates. 

The BBMP Garbage Contractors' Association blamed the BBMP for goofing up the tenders by fixing rates for different services, including auto tippers, lower than the standard procedure, but expected the contractors to deploy only the new vehicles. 

Basavaraj Kabade, General Manager (Tech), BSWML, who filed the complaint, did not respond to phone calls seeking comment.