Delhi sanitation workers call off stir

Sanitation workers in Delhi on Friday called off their strike after the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government released Rs.513 crore to clear their salary arrears, a union leader said.

He said that Delhi would be "cleaned in just three days" once they resumed work.

"We have got to know that the Delhi government has released Rs.513 crore for our salaries. We therefore decided to call off the strike. Sanitation workers will be back to work from tomorrow (Saturday)," said Akhil Bhartiya Safai Mazdoor Sangh president Krishnapal Pracha.

"Delhi will be cleaned in just three days after we resume work," claimed Parcha.

Sanitation workers posted in East and North municipal corporations were not paid salaries for the last two months, forcing them to strike work for the last 12 days.

Protesting sanitation workers even dumped garbage in Mayur Vihar and Patparganj areas falling under East Delhi municipal corporation jurisdiction, raising a stink and inconveniencing passers-by.

The Delhi High Court on Friday asked the Arvind Kejriwal government to release Rs.493 crore for the payment of salaries to MCD employees.

Addressing a press conference here, AAP leaders announced Rs.513 crore had been released for clearing salary dues.

"Even before the high court's order, we released Rs.513 crore on Thursday evening, instead of Rs.493 crore to pay the salaries of North and East municipal corporations' employees," said AAP leader Dilip Pandey.