City continues to stink

With the strike of safai karamchari union entering fourth day, residents are at the receiving end as heaps of garbage have piled up in various localities of the city. But, it seems that the officials are not taking up the issue seriously.

With the strike of safai karamchari union entering fourth day, residents are at the receiving end as heaps of garbage have piled up in various localities of the city. But, it seems that the officials are not taking up the issue seriously.

Due to the strike, garbage has already piled up on the roads and outside the sehaj safai kendras as 140 garbage disposal vehicles have been off the roads since the past four days. To press the demands, the protesters have decided to throw garbage infront of the houses of officials concerned on Saturday.

President, safai karamchari union, Krishan Kumar Chadha said, “On Saturday, we will throw garbage infront of the houses of officials concerned. We have got the support of 86 unions in the city and will intensify our protest. This time, we will call it off only when our demands are met.”

Meanwhile, MC joint commissioner Rajeeev Gupta said, “It will take some time to fulfill their demands and hopefully it will be done by next week as UT finance secretary is not in the town.” Senior deputy mayor Rajesh Gupta said, “The MC has already agreed to fulfill their demands, but implementation will be done by the UT administration. They should call off the strike as the city is in bad shape now. Officials should consider the option of invoking the Essential Services Maintenance (ESMA) Act.” Former chairman, Federation of Sector Welfare Association Chandigarh (FOSWAC), PC Sanghi questions, “Why the sanitation bylaws have not been framed till date? The unions have become so strong that they go on strike even for small demands. We need a solution to the problem as soon as possible. The MC needs to be more proactive.”

Their main demands include regularisation of as many as 134 daily wagers tagged as daily wagers, a hike in their salary to Rs 10,600, jobs to family members of the deceased workers and promotion of literate sanitation workers to the post of clerks.