Sanitation workers' strike enters sixth day, 9 detained

The strike by sanitation workers which entered the sixth day today was marked by the detention of nine strikers for dumping garbage on the road even as the National Green Tribunal issued orders to municipal corporations to clear the litter within two days in the city.
A group of sanitation workers who were protesting near Ambedkar stadium in Rajender Nagar were detained when they were tried to dump garbage on the road, a senior police officer said.
"We were peacefully protesting at Rajender Nagar in North Delhi Municipal Corporation area when police nabbed nine of our companions, including General Secretary of United Front of MCD Employees Rajender Mewati," a sanitation worker said.

Scores of workers sat outside the Rajender Nagar police station for the release of detainees even as talks were underway for the same.
A few days ago the workers had dumped garbage in front of the residence of Delhi Assembly's Deputy Speaker and on Vikas Marg near Laxmi Nagar Metro station.
Voicing concern over the issue, National Green Tribunal today asked the civic bodies to remove the solid waste within two days and directed the Delhi government to extend its support to them.

Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court also asked Commissioner of Police to ensure that Municipal Corporation employees are not obstructed by the on-strike sanitation workers from lifting garbage from in the national capital.

"We have appealed to the willing sanitation staff to resume duties as per the orders of the High Court as no one is allowed to restrain anybody from performing duties," said a senior officer of East Delhi Municipal Corporation which has been the worst-hit by the strike.
The strike was launched by several unions of the sanitation workers on October 23 demanding regular payments of salaries, arrears, regularisation of contract based workers and cashless health cards.