Sanitation workers warn of 'sterner stand' if demands not met

Sanitation situation in east Delhi may deteriorate as EDMC workers today continued with their indefinite strike over "non-payment" of salaries, even as the city government hinted at release of funds with a rider.

"We will continue with our strike as long as salaries of EDMC sanitation workers for three months (October-December) are not paid," president of Delhi unit of MCD Swachhata Karmchari Union Sanjay Gehlot said.

"If our demands are not met, we will take sterner stand from Monday," he said and claimed that 17,000 sanitation workers are participating in the strike.

The union said the sanitation workers had protested at residences of a few MLAs and garbage was dumped outside their houses in protest.
 

Meanwhile, Delhi minister Satyendar Jain today said the city government is likely to provide funds for payment of salaries for striking sanitation workers of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) which is due for three months.

He also alleged that "corruption" in the BJP-ruled civic body is the "main reason" behind its poor financial health.

"Delhi government will soon give a relief to the employees of the EDMC. The government will give funds only for the salaries of employees. We have to do something for them," Jain told reporters here.

Chairman of the Delhi Commission for Safai Karamcharis Santlal Chawria in a statement said, "It is a matter of shame that EDMC has not paid salaries to its safai karamcharis. The Commission views this act of EDMC as criminal negligence and contempt of court."

It should make its financial statement public as to where has it spent its funds and grant-in-aid received from the Delhi government, Chawria said.

EDMC, which has decided to use private entities for garbage disposal work, today wrote to Delhi police, seeking protection for smooth operation.

EDMC has two zones, Shahdara North and Shahdara South.

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.