Bengaluru: Minister for Bangalore Development K J George on Monday held discussions with garbage contractors in presence of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad and others regarding the garbage clearance issue.

The minister explained to the contractors that the government has decided to give minimum wages to 17,000 conservancy workers and the State Cabinet had also taken a decision in this regard.

Accordingly, the contractors, who, hitherto, hired the services of conservancy workers on behalf of the BBMP, would have to hand over their vehicles including diesel and driver service on a regular basis for which the BBMP would fix the payment through tender process. The contractors agreed to the suggestion made by the minister in this regard.

However, the contractors have contended that they were rendering their service sincerely till now and were pained that they were blamed for no fault of theirs. “We are all Bangaloreans and we are committed to keep the city clean,” they added saying that supervisors and health inspectors were mainly responsible for garbage crisis in the city.

Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Mayor G Padmavathi, Congress leader in the BBMP council Mohammed Rizwan Nawab and others were present.