Lighthouse Journalism found a video being widely shared on social media platforms. In a one-minute video, the system of underground garbage bins has been featured. It is claimed in the video that the system is from Belgaum, implemented by MLA Abhay Patil.
During the investigation, we found that this is an old video from Turkey and not from Belgaum in India. The viral claim is misleading.
Claim:
Facebook user Badlapur Daksh Nagrik Manch shared the video on their profile with a misleading claim.
Other social media users are also sharing the video with a similar claim.
Investigation:
We started our investigation by a simple reverse image search and found that the video also went viral in 2021.
We could spot a number plate and some text on the truck. The number was ’34 EF 4247′. And the text: ÜSKÜDAR BELEDİYESİ. This translates from Turkish to ‘Üsküdar Municipality’.
Upon doing a keyword search, we found that the sequence “34 EF 4247” is a Turkish vehicle license plate number.
Through a reverse image search, we found that the video was uploaded over 12 years ago on the YouTube channel ‘Hidro-Mak’.
Uploaded in 2013, the description of the video said: Garbage Truck with underground container system Crane. Crane capacity 7m 1 ton. HidroMak is a manufacturer of garbage compactors from Turkey.
However, we did check if any such development did take place in Belgaum recently.
According to a news report from 2022.
“India’s first underground dustbin with sensors” has been installed, and it is the nation’s first at Shri Basveshwar circle, Belagavi in Belagavi Dakshin Constituency, said MLA ABHAY PATIL
According to ETV Bharat’s report, “Under the 15th Financial Plan of the Municipal Corporation, these underground dust bins were installed in 24 places in the South constituency of Belagavi two years ago and are functioning. The corporation is also preparing to install these dust bins in the North constituency soon.”
Conclusion: The video, which shows underground garbage bins, is misleadingly claimed to be recent footage from Belgaum, India. Although Belgaum has installed similar bins, this particular clip is an old video from Turkey.
