Conservancy operations by Greater Chennai Corporation are expected to be hit on Friday as a number of compactor drivers are planning to organise a protest, dumping garbage on the premises of Ripon Buildings.
Over 100 drivers are expected to reach Ripon Buildings at 6 a.m. on Friday to participate in the protest. The protest has been organised demanding permanent jobs for the drivers. Many of the compactor drivers who play a key role in conservancy are not on the rolls. The protesters allege that the Greater Chennai Corporation is paying Rs.56,000 per month for the contractor who engages each driver. But the driver is paid only Rs.6,800 per month. “Corporation has not followed the court direction relating to 86 drivers, who have to be offered permanent jobs.
The drivers have been working for six years,” said a Corporation worker.
The protesters also allege that the private contractors ask drivers to carry out diesel pilferage in lieu of salary. The payment for diesel is being made by the Greater Chennai Corporation. As a result, a number of drivers reportedly pilfer 20 to 30 litres of diesel from the compactors.
5,000 tonnes a day
Movement of at least 68 compactors used to collect garbage is expected to be disrupted on Friday. The civic body is planning to use the services of some of the 1,142 drivers on the rolls for conservancy operations.
But most of such drivers operate only cars and light motor vehicles.
Over 5,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste is being generated by the city every day. Compactors collect the waste from each of the 200 wards of the city.
