Even though the Delhi government announced loans to the ailing MCDs, it seem that there is no end to the civic woes in Delhi as the employees of all three Corporations refused to call off the strike on Wednesday.
The agitating staff also demanded unification of the three Corporations, terming it as a permanent solution to the crisis. As the strike entered day eight, workers raised slogans and dumped garbage across the streets in various parts of the Capital. Traffic was thrown out of gear during peak hours as Delhi government suggested that the continuing protests, that have brought the city to its knees, were “political” and instigated by BJP.
“We want the MCDs to be united. The solution is not dispensing salaries right now, as we will land in the same situation a few months later. We will again be out on the streets protesting for salaries. Till the time MCDs are trifurcated we cannot live in peace,” said Sanjay Gehlot, president of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha.
On the other hand, commuters had a harrowing time as traffic came to a standstill in various parts of the city as sanitation workers blocked major thoroughfares such as NH-24 and Vikas Marg among others.
“Due to the demonstration, commuters have to face long traffic snarls on NH-24 and the traffic was moving at snail’s pace at Akshardham redlight, Kondli road, Gokulpuri Chowk, Shashtri Nagar red-light. Commuters were stuck at the highway, connecting UP to Delhi, for more than half an hour. However, traffic police were deployed for easy movement of traffic but to no avail,” said a traffic official.
Delhi Home Minister Satyender Jain tweeted, “If salaries are paid upto December then why strike?” Jain questioned the role of the Councillors and Mayors of the BJP-ruled Corporations in the protests. The three civic bodies told the Delhi high court on Tuesday that the employees have been paid salaries till December 2015.
“It seems like politics now. If they have indeed paid salaries then why stage such protests? BJP is doing politics and misleading people. What explains the presence of Mayors and BJP Councillors in the protests otherwise?” Jain asked.
The strike has crippled functioning of hospitals and schools run by civic bodies, besides garbage disposal even as the Delhi government continues to insist that it has already released the entire fund to the Municipal bodies under non-plan head.
The contractors of North MCD and EDMC have also extended their support to the on-going strike, threatening they will stop all ongoing works of the two Municipal corporations from February 10. Thousands of agitators on Tuesday took out a protest march from the Civic Centre to Rajghat carrying begging bowls to draw attention to their demands.