Technical issues hold up X-ray scanner plan

The proposal to acquire four machines at a cost of Rs 520 crore has been delayed repeatedly as officials are doubtful if the expensive scanners will really help the civic body increase its octroi collection. While the BMC had hoped that the scanners will help them detect all contents in trucks,officials have now realised the pictures can be misleading.

The idea was mooted to check widespread evasion of octroi at nakas. It is not possible for workers at octroi nakas to open and see each and every consignment as it is time consuming and creates congestion at check-posts. Traders carrying valuable goods often manage to evade octroi by covering them up or storing them in concealed compartments within the truck,according to civic officials. The scanners were to detect the presence of every object in the truck. The machines are to be imported from firms based in US,Germany,UK and China.

However,a test run done by civic officials on a smaller machine failed to give the desired results. The scanner was unable to distinguish between metals and cannot show whether an object is hollow or solid. “You cannot figure out if the metal inside is gold or iron or copper. A packet of powder cannot be identified as carrying talcum powder or flour. This flaw can prove dangerous for us as evaders might get away without paying the octroi that they have to,” said a senior official from the assessment and collection department.

Officials are also concerned about the effects that exposure to radiation can have on its employees. To ensure the safety of drivers and naka workers,officials said that the tender documents will make it mandatory for interested agencies to get approval from the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and International Commission on Radiological Protection to ensure that radioactive rays are maintained at the minimum level that won’t harm the human body.

“A shift normally lasts for nine hours and the continuous proximity to the scanners can have long term effects on the health of our employees. We do not want to take the risk. There is little chance that proposal will come through,” said the official.

However,when asked about the delay and opposition in the acquisition of the scanners,SS Shinde,joint municipal commissioner,said that there is a delay but no opposition. “We will soon start the tendering process. There is no opposition at all,” said Shinde. The proposal was revived in May and officials had at that time said that tenders will be invited by the end of May,which has still not happened.

The four scanners will be installed at Vashinaka in Mankhurd,Eastern Express Highway naka at Mulund East,LBS naka in Mulund West and Dahisar naka. The field of inspection within the scanner will be 4.5 metres high,3 metres wide and 20 metre long. Twelve hundred megapixel camers will scan the truck from multiple sides without having to offload goods.