Despite an announcement by sanitation worker unions calling off their three-day strike, a section of workers did not resume work today worsening conditions in areas under East Delhi Municipal Corporation.
Scores of sanitation workers led by Rajender Mewati, General Secretary of United Front of MCD Employees, blocked Vikas Marg in Laxminagar and dumped garbage on the road. They also raised demand for regular payment of salaries, arrears, regularisation of contractual workers and cashless health card.
Arterial roads, streets and pavements in East Delhi remained littered with garbage on the fourth day of the strike.
"Sanitation workers will continue their strike till all their demands are met by the authorities in MCD and Delhi government," Mewati said, adding, "We will further intensify the strike spreading it in other two municipal corporations in coming days."
Yesterday, some leaders of sanitation workers had called off strike after they were assured release of funds in a meeting with Delhi Government Minister Sandip Kumar.
It was agreed that the government will release the remaining portion of its grant to MCDs in the current financial year in December.
"The sanitation workers did not accept the assurance of fund release in December saying that the fund should be released in a week as was promised earlier," Sanjay Gehlot, President of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha who had announced calling off of the strike, said.
"As per the wish of the sanitation workers, the strike has been decided to be continued till the government releases the funds," Gehlot said.
Amid the crisis posed by the strike of sanitation workers, the Mayors of three MCDs in the city today accused Delhi government of playing politics over the issue claiming that it has to pay them several hundred crores as dues.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on the other hand, has written a letter to Lt Governor Najeeb Jung urging him to instruct DDA to clear all outstanding dues regarding property tax to the three municipal corporations.
He quoted information that Delhi Development Authority owed Rs 1600 crore jointly to the three MCDs.
"Kejriwal is trying to confuse the whole issue. Instead of asking Lt Governor to intervene in the DDA matter, Kejriwal should order for payment of dues his government owes to the three MCDs," Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay said.
