Stink, protests continue; workers demand pending salaries, arrears

The sanitation problem remained severe in most parts of East Delhi for the sixth consecutive day on Wednesday as a section of the sanitation workers refused to call off their strike demanding their pending salaries and arrears and payments. Amid the crisis, serious garbage disposal and health crisis have become a huge issue in the Trans-Yamuna region of the national Capital. 

The workers, despite assurances and repeated meetings with EDMC officials, have reportedly halted services and pushed the city to literally become a garbage dump. 

The agitated staff, in order to speed up their protest, dumped heaps of garbage at the office of Delhi Legislative Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goyal’s office and in various other locations resulting in huge traffic chaos everywhere. On the other hand, EDMC officials claim that all unions have ended the agitation and have helped dispose of 3206.475 metric tonne garbage piled up due to week-long disruption in civic services.

Sanjay Gehlot, president of Delhi Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukta Morcha, claimed that ‘Municipal Corporation of Doctors Association (MCDA)’, East Delhi branch of Swami Dayanand Hospital has extended their support on Wednesday and will take part in protest from Thursday. 

“I have heard that EDMC officials are claiming that a section of sanitation workers have called off the strike. To protest against this irresponsible behaviour, we will protest in front of the civic centre headquarter on Thursday,” Gehlot added. Early morning, thousands of agitated workers took out a protest march from Jhilmil and surrounding areas to draw attention to their demands.  

The protest march threw traffic out of gear in and around the area. Protests by sanitation workers in different parts of East Delhi also created chaos on the roads as garbage was dumped in every nook and corner. 

The protestors claimed to intensify their demonstrations to target offices and residences of Councillors, MLAs and other stakeholders more vigorously in the coming days to raise their 

voice against the injustice done to them.