EDMC gears up to collect garbage as strike goes on

With the East Delhi Municipal Corporation's sanitation workers strike entering into second week now, the civic body has geared up to clear the garbage and filth from the streets, as ordered by the National Green Tribunal.
The green body had yesterday directed the civic bodies to remove the solid waste within two days and directed the Delhi government to extend its support to them.
Acting tough against the striking EDMC workers, officials have suspended 20 regular drivers and terminated services of six contractual drivers for joining the strike without prior notice.
The action was taken against the drivers since they refused to collect garbage from Jhilmil area although the drivers union is not participating in the strike and no notice was given by them to join the strike, a senior EDMC official said.

East Delhi Mayor Harsh Malhotra said "EDMC is making all-out efforts to lift garbage from dhalaos (garbage dumps) and that have piled anywhere on the roads."
The corporation removed 1,240 tonnes of garbage, 195 tonnes of debris, 470 tonnes of silt using 54 private trucks last night, he said.

Till 5 pm today, 550 tonnes of garbage has been removed by 127 trucks. Ten trucks have been provided by the North Delhi Municipal Corporation, he said, adding, auto-tippers were also deployed to collect garbage off the roads.
Meanwhile, in view of the High Court order, Delhi Police's Senior Special CP (Law and Order) has instructed all the police officers concerned to ensure that the agencies involved in removal of garbage are not obstructed by anybody and extend them protection in their work.

The Mayor visited the dharna venue of striking sanitation staff to persuade them to resume their duties but they refused to call it off.
"We are continuing the strike although we are under pressure to call it off. We are united in our decision to continue the strike although we have no intention to stop anyone from removing garbage," General Secretary of United Front of MCD Employees, Rajender Mewati said.