Dangers of dangling garbage bags in BBMP autos

It happened on the morning of the 15th November. I was returning home after dropping the kids off at school. I was riding my scooter in a residential area (Vidyaranyapura). Ahead of me was a BBMP garbage-collecting tipper auto, laden with wet waste. Since they also collect dry waste separately, there were jute bags filled with dry waste dangling behind (see the picture below). As you know, these autos collect garbage from house to house in the mornings. 

(picture for representation purpose only)

The auto was driving in the middle of the road when, suddenly, it turned to the left to avoid a deep pothole. Since I was far enough behind, nothing affected me. Despite the driver's attempt to avoid the pothole, there was a loud thud, followed by a screeching noise. The auto stopped, and I too stopped in shock. Then, a scooter rider came sliding across the road, his scooter falling on top of him, with his right foot trapped between the scooter and the rough tar road.

I immediately parked my bike and rushed towards him. I lifted the scooter and then lifted him up. His foot was badly injured; the skin had been scraped off, and blood was slowly oozing out. The young man appeared to be in shock and didn't show any signs of pain. He just looked around in despair. A few people gathered around, but he didn't respond to any of our suggestions or questions. Meanwhile, the blood continued to flow, and he was clearly bleeding. The BBMP auto driver looked around for a medical shop, but it was closed. The biker left untreated and left the place in his scooter—yet there were no fights or arguments.

This incident made me realize the dangers of dangling bags hooked to BBMP garbage autos!

1. The dangling bags of dry waste swing out, the moment the auto takes a steep turn (either left or right). Anyone behind or in front is likely to be hit by these bags.
2. Another danger is the metal flaps or lids, which are often left open and dangle on the sides. They swing in and out as the auto moves (bad roads filled with potholes add to the momentum), and swing out even more when the auto takes quick turns. (Is it centripetal force or centrifugal force?)

Whether BBMP takes cognizance of this matter or not, we, as the public, need to be cautious and keep a safe distance from these garbage autos.

घोडा हैं, मैदान हैं, यह बंदा परेशान हैं !

Liquor serving in restaurants without GST!

GST को गोली मार ! 

Bangalore is known as pub capital of India! or even in whole of Asia!! Supposed to have 800+ bars & restaurants. 

Even these many pubs & bars are not able to quinch the thirst of the liquor lovers in Bangalore!

Taking the advantage of this love for liquor of bangaloreans, many dhabas and restaurants have been serving liquor to its customers.   These eat outs will not have license to sell liquor.  However, these restaurants' buy liquor as per customer request from a MRP outlet and serve at their place. 

So what? 

The restaurants will charge customer with an additional 25% over the MRP of the liquor.  But no GST bill is provided for the same. Restaurants only provide GST bill for food items, but not for liquor!! The additional charges or the service fees go unaccounted for.  It is a huge loss of revenue for the GOI. 

For example, if a restaurant serves beer, wine & liquor worth Rs.1,00,000/ per day. They would collect around Rs.25,000/- from customers without issuing any GST bills. (GST bill is issued only for the food items)

If GST bill is issued then they have to show 5% GST amount.  (since it is service, it may fall under 18% slab)

So the loss of GST for GOI in a day is 5% of 25,000, which is equal to 1,250/- per day. 

In a financial year they would collect Rs.25,000 x 365 = 91,25,000 from customers, but no GST bill issued.  The loss in the form of GST is 1250 x 365 = Rs.4,56,250/-

If this is the story of one of the restaurants.  Then what about 100’s of them out there? It is rampant across the city! (without liquor license, but supplying liquor and avoiding GST)

Loss from 100 restaurants in a financial year can amount upto Rs.4,56,250/- * 100 =

Rs.4,56,00,000/- 

This amount is for Bangalore city only.  Think about the whole state Karnataka.  There will be hundreds of restaurants supplying liquor without GST bill.

Then think of the whole of India.  There will be thousands of them. There is a huge loss to national exchequer. 

Liquor may not come under GST, but the act of serving does.  Right? When the food aggregators (like Swiggy, zomato, dunzo, foodpanda, etc.,) are promptly collecting GST and paying to GOI, why not these restaurants do the same? 

Doesn’t it make sense? 

घोडा है, मैदान है, यह बंदा परेशान हैं !