Nagpur: The strike by sanitation workers employed by a private contractor entered its third day on Saturday, crippling garbage collection across nearly half of the city. Escalating their agitation, several workers have announced a protest at Samvidhan Square on Sunday.
The disruption has affected the Laxmi Nagar, Dharampeth, Hanuman Nagar, Dhantoli and Nehru Nagar zones, which together generate more than 600 metric tonnes of waste daily. Intermittent rain over the past two days has worsened the situation, with garbage piling up in residential areas, markets and along roadsides, triggering foul odour and raising concerns over public health.
The crisis has also cast a shadow over the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's (NMC) ongoing cleanliness fortnight.
Background of the Agitation
The agitation began on Thursday after nearly 1,000 workers of Antony Waste Handling Cell Ltd stopped work over alleged delays in payment of May salaries and pending earned leave (EL) dues. Workers claim EL benefits worth around Rs1.75 crore have remained unpaid since April.
Although company officials said salaries were credited on Friday evening, workers have refused to resume duties until the pending EL dues are cleared. NMC officials acknowledged that garbage collection has been severely affected. Chief sanitation officer Dr Gajendra Mahalle said zonal offices have been directed to deploy alternative vehicles and manpower wherever possible, while the contractor has been instructed to resolve the dispute at the earliest.
Contractor's Response
Antony Waste Handling Cell Ltd manager Sameer Tonpe said around 250 temporary workers have been deployed to maintain essential services. JCBs and tippers are also being used to clear garbage from major roads and public places. He said the company has sought time until Tuesday to clear the EL dues and expressed hope that the strike would be withdrawn soon.
Political Criticism
The sanitation crisis has also drawn political criticism. Congress corporator and standing committee member Abhijeet Jha accused the civic administration and the BJP-led NMC of ignoring repeated complaints about the contractor's functioning, manpower shortages and alleged violations of contractual conditions.
Describing the situation as an embarrassment during the NMC's cleanliness campaign, Jha said residents were being forced to live amid accumulating garbage even as the civic body conducted cleanliness drives and awareness programmes. Despite repeated discussions in civic meetings, he alleged, no effective action was taken against the contractor.
Key Points at a Glance
- Strike enters third day
- Around 1,000 workers on strike
- Five zones affected: Laxmi Nagar, Dharampeth, Hanuman Nagar, Dhantoli and Nehru Nagar
- Daily waste generation impacted: Over 600 metric tonnes
- Pending EL dues claimed by workers: Rs 1.75 crore
- Salaries for May released on Friday, says contractor
- 250 temporary workers deployed
- Contractor seeks time till Tuesday to clear dues
- NMC running emergency waste collection arrangements amid monsoon conditions
