Sanitation workers refuse to call off strike

As the sanitation workers refused to call off strike on Saturday, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation decided to take the services of private operators to clear

As the sanitation workers refused to call off strike on Saturday, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation decided to take the services of private operators to clear the dhalaos. It has deployed around 43 trucks from Saturday evening to lift the garbage from Shahdara North and South zones.

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As per the notice issued by EDMC, all the private vehicles will assemble near Akshardham Temple first and them go to respective dhalaos/ dust bins in Shahdara Noth and Shadara south zone. These will collect garbage and dispose it to the sanitary landfill site in Ghazipur in police protection.

“The action has been taken as per Delhi High Court order in June 2015. In the order direction was issued to commissioner of police to constitute specific task forces for each ward in East Delhi, headed by a police officer not below the rank of sub inspector, to oversee the process of removing garbage,” said a senior EDMC official.

EDMC has written to Deputy Commissioners of Police North East and Shahdara district to direct the concerned SHO to provide sufficient police force.

But the workers are not happy with the corporation’s decision. “We always welcome the high court’s decision but this is not the solution to existing problem. Rather than finding solution and providing salaries to employees, corporation is taking ----- of court’s decision,” said Sanjay Gehlot, president of President of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha.

“We will ask the workers to allow proper functioning of private trucks but who will sweep internal lanes, collect garbage from roadsides and drains,” he said further .

On Saturday, the Delhi Government’s had also announced to release the funds to East Delhi Municipal Corporation for payment of pending salaries.

Satyendar Jain, health minister, Delhi Government, said, “We are concerned about the sanitation workers and will soon release the funds to corporation but only for paying the pending salaries.”He also alleged that the corporation is indulged in making money rather than adding to the revenue.

Meanwhile, Delhi commission for Safai Karamcharis has demanded explanation from EDMC on salary issue . “As per the high court’s direction, MCD should release the salaries of MCD safai karamcharis by 7th of each month. In the given circumstances why they are delaying payment . It is an act criminal negligence and contempt of court. They should make their financial statement public ,” said Santlal Chawria, chairman of commission.

Workers are still adamant about their demands for paying three months pending salary, arrears (from the date of regularisation of employees) and their cashless medical insurance.

“We have to get on roads after every three months for last three years just to get our salaries. The state government and municipal corporation are fooling us and we don’t want the situation to be repeated. We will not give up this time unless all our demands are met,” said DP Chandel, president, Rastriya Safai Majdoor Congress.

To calm down the situation, EDMC commission Mohanjeet Singh had also called a meeting with sanitation workers at his office, in afternoon. But that ended without any conclusion.

“The commissioner was sympathetic to our problem and shared his limitations also. But I can’t run my house expenses with sympathies. He informed that a file on salary issue has been sent to state government but it has yet to get administrative approval,” said Gehlot.

Meanwhile, the workers have planned to gherao other MLAs on Monday morning and dumped garbage in their complexes.