Nagpur: The sanitation workers' strike that disrupted door-to-door garbage collection across large parts of the city for three days ended on Sunday. However, residents in several areas continued to grapple with uncollected waste, with garbage remaining uncleared for a fourth consecutive day in many localities.
Strike Called Off
Confirming the development, Rajesh Bhagat, deputy commissioner of the Solid Waste Management Department, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), said, "The contractual employees of Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited, responsible for door-to-door waste collection in NMC Zones 1 to 5, have called off their strike and resumed services from Sunday."
A representative of the sanitation workers' union said the strike was withdrawn after the company agreed to address the employees' demands. Workers subsequently returned to duty.
Impact of the Agitation
The agitation had brought waste collection and transportation to a halt, resulting in garbage piling up outside homes, housing societies, commercial establishments and along roadsides, creating unsanitary conditions across the affected areas.
The disruption also undermined NMC's ongoing cleanliness fortnight campaign, which aims to improve sanitation standards. Instead, mounting garbage heaps and public resentment dominated the civic landscape.
Residents Still Affected
Although collection services resumed, the effects of the strike remained evident across several neighbourhoods. Residents reported that garbage vehicles had yet to reach their areas, leaving waste accumulated since Thursday. Intermittent rainfall further worsened the situation, soaking the garbage and triggering foul odours.
With nearly 600 metric tonnes of waste generated daily in the five affected zones, NMC now faces the task of clearing a substantial backlog accumulated during the strike.
