‘Overloading’ of waste collection vehicles in Coimbatore posing safety risk, say drivers

Sacks tied to the rear of a garbage collection vehicle operated by the Coimbatore Corporation. | Photo Credit: S. SIVA SARAVANAN The Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) Sanitary Workers Wing has alleged that private contractors were setting a daily target of collecting 1,200 kg of waste in each light commercial vehicle (LCV) used for door-to-door collection in the city.The union sought directions from the Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner to restrict the load to 750 kg per vehicle, which it cited as the permissible carrying capacity.In a petition to the Commissioner, the wing’s general secretary, BMS Stalin Prabhu, alleged that the contractors were threatening wage deductions and termination of employment if drivers failed to meet the target.A senior Corporation official, however, said the civic body had not imposed any such target or load limit. If such a requirement existed, it might have been imposed by contractors, the official said.According to Corporation data, its waste collection fleet comprises 401 LCVs used for door-to-door collection, 131 battery-operated vehicles and 626 larger vehicles, including lorries and open-body trucks used for transporting waste.The union cited the Supreme Court’s judgment in Safai Karamchari Andolan vs. Union of India and urged the Corporation to ensure the safety and dignity of sanitation workers. Published - October 09, 2026 08:24 pm IST