With the strike of the outsourced sanitation workers entering fifth day on Monday, door-to-door collection of garbage in the city was hit.
The city that witnessed a spike in the incidence of viral fevers in September is in for another challenge as the talks between the State government and striking workers appear to have been heading for a stalemate.
As many as 4,400 sanitation workers owing allegiance to the GVMC Contract Workers Union, affiliated to the CITU, have been abstaining from their duties from October 4 as a part of the State-wide agitation seeking the scrapping of G.O. 279.
The workers are alleging that the G.O. is against their interests and it would burden people financially.
With the garbage-collecting vehicles working efficiently, the garbage bins are being cleared and as a result, many colonies in the city does not reflect much of garbage accumulation. However, the garbage dumped in the open keep piling.
The GVMC has appealed to the bulk-users and commercial establishments not to throw garbage in the open.
“We are dumping the garbage on a road away from our house since none is collecting it,” said a resident at Gopalapatnam. Another said that the garbage was thrown in the collection vehicle left at the end of the road by the workers.
Sources in the GVMC say the G.O. protects the interests of workers as the existing workers would continue to discharge their duties and wages would be paid on the fifth of every month.
The State government is also taking a serious view of instances of those on duty being obstructed by the striking workers and would take a tough stand, sources said.
The GVMC is maintaining sanitation works in several areas, markets and thoroughfares by the 1,019 permanent workers and 424 outsourced workers who are not participating in the strike. Another 400 workers have been hired to take up the works, besides using the sweeping machines.
“As the drivers are not on strike, garbage from dumper-bins and others will be lifted,” Additional Commissioner (General) G.V.V.S. Murthy said.
The surveillance at the 30 hotspots identified to prevent incidence of viral fevers would continue as the staff concerned were not on strike, he added.
Memoranda submitted
The striking workers, led by union honorary president P. Venkata Reddy and CITU city secretary P. Mani, took out a rally from the Rythu Bazaar at M.V.P. Colony to the residence of MLA V. Ramakrishna Babu on Monday. Mr. Reddy said a dharna was organised at his house and a representation was submitted to him. Workers also submitted memoranda to MLAs in the city in the respective constituencies.
“The strike will be intensified. Transport workers in three zones joined the stir on Monday. Twenty-five workers were taken into preventive custody in Wards 9,10 and 11 and were let off later,” he said.
Addressing the rally, Mr. Reddy criticised the ‘indifference’ of the government. “The TDP government has no time to hold talks with the workers. The G.O. 151 must be implemented honouring the agreement reached nearly a year ago which says that ₹12,000 a month and arrears should be paid to the workers,” Mr. Reddy said.
‘Increase trips’
Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner M. Hari Narayanan has instructed the officials to promptly transport dumper bins and compactor bins and if necessary, increase the trips and hire more workers in view of the strike. “FIRs should be lodged against those obstructing private workers hired for maintenance of sanitation,” he said.
