The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Sanitary workers call off strike

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Thursday, Jul 09, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Sanitary workers call off strike

Special Correspondent

Special Officer allays fears of retrenchment

‘Implementation of Integrated Solid Waste Management by Ramky will create more jobs’
No action will be taken on the project till the government takes a decision

HYDERABAD: The two-day strike by workers owing allegiance to Bhagyanagar Municipal Employees Union was called off on Wednesday evening after an assurance from the GHMC Commissioner and Special Officer, S.P. Singh, that the apprehensions of the union about the Integrated Solid Waste Management project would be referred to the government. The GHMC would not take any further action on the project till the government considered the matter and took a decision.

Mr. Singh gave a written assurance to the union following which it decided to call off the stir.

Celebration

Jubilant workers burst firecrackers and smeared each other with ‘gulal’ welcoming the agreement.

K. Shanker, union president, said the strike was being withdrawn temporarily.

Earlier, Mr. Singh held discussions with the union representatives. He told them that their apprehensions about job retrenchment once Ramky implemented the project were wrong.

He said, in fact, it would lead to creation of more jobs. Ramky would only be handling the technical aspect of the solid waste management project while the collection and lifting of garbage would be done by the GHMC workers.

Mr. Singh asked them to give a detailed representation about the objections they had with the project so that it could be forwarded to the government.

Plea

He urged the striking workers to join duties as public health was involved. Sanitation was important particularly during monsoon time.

The Union leaders told the Commissioner that they were doing reasonably well in primary and secondary collection of garbage and there was no need to disrupt the process. They would continue to lift and transport the garbage to the trenching point and from there, Ramky could take over.

Less manpower

Meanwhile, as the garbage piled up all over the city, the Corporation engaged 2,500 additional workers, 325 tippers and 300 drivers to clear the overflowing bins. Every day the city generates 3,800 tonnes of garbage.

Of this, the Corporation could clear only 70 per cent mostly from main roads and markets.

Since handling the dumper pacers (on which the bins are lifted and kept) involves training, the labour engaged was unable to do the job fast, officials said.

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Andhra Pradesh