Sanitation staff on strike, east Delhi faces garbage crisis

Demanding payment of pending salaries, sanitation workers of East Delhi Municipal Corporation today went on an indefinite strike, which is likely to trigger a serious garbage disposal and health crisis in the trans-Yamuna region of the capital city.
The workers also demonstrated in front of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's camp offices in east Delhi and "dumped garbage" at his Khichripur office.
The protesting 'safai karmacharis' also locked the refuse removal (RR) depot of the civic body in Jhilmil area, preventing trucks from dumping garbage at Ghazipur landfill site.
"The sanitation workers were paid salaries till September. They have not been given salaries for the past three months despite assurances by municipal corporation officials, forcing us to go on strike," claimed Sanjay Gehlot, president of Delhi unit of MCD Swachhata Karmchari Union.

The workers also raised slogans against EDMC and Delhi government.
"EDMC is suffering from financial problems due to its higher expenditure as compared to its income. The blame for this condition goes to Sheila Dikshit for trifurcation of the erstwhile unified MCD. The situation has worsened as the Delhi government is not paying dues, running into several hundred crores, to the corporation," Gehlot alleged.

He claimed 17,000 sanitation workers are participating in the strike.
"It is a matter of shame that due to non-payment of their salaries and other dues, the sanitation workers are on the verge of a financial crisis and are finding it hard to meet their basic needs, including food," Gehlot said.

The workers have also raised their other demands including regularisation of daily wagers and health cards.
EDMC 'safai karmacharis' had struck work in January and October last year, posing serious health and hygiene challenge to the authorities. The strike in 2015 was called off after the intervention of the Delhi High Court.
East Delhi generates a large quantity of garbage with Ghazipur landfill site receiving on an average 2,500 tonnes of waste daily. The strike may leave the area, which also has a number of unauthorised colonies, in a mess.