Delhi govt may give funds for pending wages of striking EDMC staff: Jain

The Delhi government is likely to give funds for payment of salaries for striking sanitation workers of EDMC which is due for three months, minister Satyendar Jain said today and alleged that corruption in the BJP-ruled civic body is the “main reason” behind its poor financial health.

“Delhi government is working on providing relief to the employees of EDMC. The government will give funds only for salaries of employees. We have to do something for them,” he told mediapersons here.

Hitting out at BJP corporators of East Delhi Municipal corporation, the Delhi Home minister alleged that instead of collecting tax, they are “interested in collecting bribe”.

“Instead of collecting tax, they are interested in collecting bribe. If someone constructs home, they get Rs 10 lakh as bribe. That is the main reason behind their poor financial condition.

“They (EDMC) collect Rs 15 crore annually through advertisements but they get a bribe of Rs 15 crore per month through illegal hoardings,” he alleged.

Jain also convened a meeting of senior EDMC officials to discuss the situation and find ways to end the strike of around 17,000 sanitation workers.

Demanding payment of salaries pending since October month last year, EDMC sanitation workers went on an indefinite strike yesterday, which is likely to trigger a serious garbage disposal and health crisis in the trans-Yamuna region of the Capital city.

Demanding payment of pending salaries, sanitation workers of East Delhi Municipal Corporation on Friday went on an indefinite strike. The workers also demonstrated in front of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia’s camp offices in East Delhi and “dumped garbage” at his Khichripur office. The protesting ‘safai karmacharis’ also locked the refuse removal (RR) depot of the civic body in Jhilmil area, preventing trucks from dumping garbage at Ghazipur landfill site.

“The sanitation workers were paid salaries till September. They have not been given salaries for the past three months despite assurances by the Municipal corporation officials, forcing us to go on a strike,” claimed Sanjay Gehlot, president of the Delhi unit of MCD Swachhata Karmchari Union. The workers also raised slogans against EDMC.

“EDMC is suffering from financial problems due to its higher expenditure as compared to its income. The blame for this condition goes to Sheila Dikshit for trifurcation of the erstwhile unified MCD. The situation has worsened as the Delhi government is not paying the dues running into several hundred crores to the Corporation,” Gehlot alleged. He claimed 17,000 sanitation workers are participating in the strike. “It is a matter of shame that due to non-payment of their salaries and other dues, the sanitation workers are on the verge of a financial crisis and are finding it hard to meet their basic needs, including food,” Gehlot said.