Govt takes up garbage cleaning amid on-going strike

The Delhi government on Saturday initiated the drive for cleaning of garbage from different parts of the national Capital, which had been dumped by striking MCD workers. The Delhi government said MCD workers have been misguided by Mayors to hide their own acts of corruption. 

Following instructions from deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, PWD Minister Satyendar Jain formed a PWD task force on Friday night, which swung into action on Saturday morning.

After assessing the situation, the PWD set 93 machines into motion along with requisite personnel and began the garbage cleaning work. Jain said PWD teams have been instructed to continue work till 

garbage is cleared from all areas, particularly from those where it had been deliberately thrown.

The minister said residents of the national Capital cannot be allowed to suffer due to a political conspiracy hatched by the BJP to keep the city dirty. PWD teams have been directed to keep the deputy Chief Minister updated on a regular basis through WhatsApp.

“It is extremely shocking that the Mayors of the three Corporations are unable to explain how the money provided by the Delhi government has been spent by them. Despite having received the entire budgetary allocation (both planned and unplanned) for the current financial year, the three Corporations are unable to provide salaries to their employees,” said Delhi government in a statement.

“The outstanding loan amount which the three Corporations are to pay back to the Delhi government stands at around Rs 6,000 crore. It is for the first time that the Delhi government decided this year that it will not seek any repayment from the Corporations during this financial year,” it added.

Similarly, Delhi government also decided not to seek repayment of any interest on the loan during the current year.

Despite all these concessions, since the MCDs are unable to perform their obligatory and primary functions, therefore the Delhi government has decided to initiate the cleanliness drive.

Meanwhile, over 7,000 doctors and 10,000 nurses of hospitals run by the Municipal Corporations also went on an indefinite strike demanding salary and arrears. Around 12,000 engineering staff of the civic bodies also joined the stir.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is in Bengaluru for naturopathy treatment, said he has issued direction to deploy as many trucks as needed to clear the city of garbage and accused BJP of playing politics on the issue.

“I have directed govt to deploy as many trucks as are needed to lift garbage. Public should not be inconvenienced,” he tweeted.