Tension prevailed in the Ice House area on Friday morning after nine vehicles of private conservancy firm Neel Metal Fanalca were damaged, and a Chennai Corporation councillor was arrested in this connection.
Supporters of J. Vasudevan (Ward 88, Umarupulavar Nagar), staged ‘road roko' condemning the arrest. He was later released on bail.
According to Neel Metal Fanalca officials, its workers suspended conservancy operations on Thursday night and Friday morning in a few areas demanding action against the councillor, who allegedly assaulted them on Thursday night.
“The councillor and his supporters assaulted some employees on Dr. Besant Road asking them to remove garbage immediately,” said E. Suresh, Secretary of Neel Metal Workers Union. Those assaulted included S. Murugan and K. Mani.
The night shift operations were suspended in Triplicane and Kodambakkam zones as the workers gathered at the depot in Lloyds Colony. Normal garbage collection resumed after 11.30 a.m.
Normally, 50 tonnes of garbage is collected in Triplicane and 120 tonnes in Kodambakkam every night, according to Neel Metal Fanalca officials.
Sultan Basha, one of the persons who staged ‘road roko' in support of the councillor, said that the demand for garbage collection in the area was high on account of the festival season.
