Even though the strike by sanitation workers continued, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation on Thursday said it had lifted over 1,200 metric tonnes of garbage on Wednesday night.
Workers of the EDMC have been on strike since October 23 to demand permanent jobs for contract staff, payment of arrears and medical insurance. EDMC Mayor Harsh Deep Malhotra said 1,240 MT of garbage, 195 tonnes of malba, 470 tonnes of silt were lifted on Wednesday night using 54 private trucks.
The workers had refused to lift garbage and drivers of trucks had joined the protest on Wednesday. However, the EDMC suspended 20 drivers and disengaged six drivers who were hired on contract. “They had not given a notice for their strike so we had to suspend them,” said a senior EDMC official.
On Thursday, till 5 p.m. 550 MT of garbage had been lifted through 127 trips. The North Delhi Municipal Corporation had provided 10 trucks, and 60 drivers from the DTC have been put on standby.
“We have put in place additional resources to ensure that dhalaos are cleared and garbage doesn’t pile up,” said Mr. Malhotra. The National Green Tribunal had ordered the civic bodies and the government to clear trash on the streets on Wednesday. Workers, however, refused to call off the strike.
“We would like to know how the corporation had money to engage private trucks when they don’t have money to pay their own drivers for months,” asked Rajendra Mewati, the general secretary of the United Front of MCD Unions.
Meanwhile, meetings with various union leaders and the corporation continued on Thursday, with the Mayor visiting the site of a protest to try to convince them to call off the stir.