The Kochi Corporation is set to condemn six of its 13 refuse compactors used for waste transport due to non-availability of hydraulic spare parts and inadequate maintenance support.
The move reinforces the findings of the latest Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report regarding the civic body’s mismanagement of its vehicle fleet.
It has been found that repairing these compactors would cost more than their market value. Consequently, they will be assessed and issued uneconomical repair certificates before being auctioned. They will have to be replaced by new ones to prevent disruption in waste movement.
The CAG report on local bodies for the period 2020–21 to 2022–23, tabled in the Kerala Assembly earlier this year, observed that the Corporation should have ensured the availability of models and spare parts for at least 15 years. Prolonged idling was cited as the primary reason for vehicles becoming unserviceable before completing even a decade of use. The report also flagged delays of up to 10 years between the date vehicles went off-road and their eventual auction. Such delayed condemnation, it noted, led to deterioration in scrap value and compounded losses.
“We have decided to bring all our existing vehicles, including those purchased under Cochin Smart Mission Limited, as well as new ones, under an Annual Maintenance Contract system. This will make the agency concerned responsible for timely maintenance and availability of spare parts,” said Mayor V.K. Minimol.
The compactors slated for condemnation were rarely washed, and their maintenance handled by an agency based in Bengaluru often took six months to a year. During this period, they idled and developed further complaints, making eventual repairs costlier than their market value.
In his report, the Corporation’s mechanical engineer stressed the need to purchase new compactors from authorised showrooms and ensure the availability of compaction unit spare parts. He also recommended shielding compactors from rain to avoid frequent sensor and hydraulic system failures. The report suggests that the compactors were not consistently sheltered from rain, contributing to frequent sensor and hydraulic failures.
This has been a recurring issue within the Corporation, which has also been burdened with 54 autorickshaws for waste movement. These were procured from a company on the verge of closure and hence spare parts were not available for their timely maintenance.
Published – July 17, 2026 09:36 pm IST
