The Patna Municipal Corporation’s sanitation workers have been on strike for five days. The impact of the strike is clearly visible in the state capital, Patna. Piles of garbage are piling up in the streets and neighborhoods, making it difficult for local residents to live in the filth and stench. People are also worried about the spread of infection.
Around 300 tonnes of garbage was collected on Monday – the corporation
The Patna Municipal Corporation claims that despite limited resources, a special campaign is being launched to maintain cleanliness. According to the corporation, approximately 300 tons of garbage was collected on Monday. Around 100 door-to-door vehicles collected garbage from homes and businesses on Monday. According to the corporation, additional vehicles were arranged in the Nutan Rajdhani, Azimabad, Patna City, Pataliputra, and Bankipur areas. In view of the vote count, special cleaning arrangements were also made on the A.N. College campus. Meanwhile, JCBs and tractors were used to clean garbage points on Exhibition Road, Goriya Toli, and Jamal Road.
Due to the impact on sanitation, the Municipal Corporation intensified its action against contracted agencies. The corporation alleges that the agencies failed to provide adequate staff and vehicles as required by established standards. On August 1st and 2nd, show-cause notices were issued to three agencies. Additional financial penalties totaling over ₹21.95 crore were imposed.
The heaps of garbage reveal the reality of the municipal corporation’s claims.
Meanwhile, under the banner of the Patna Municipal Corporation Joint Employees Coordination Committee, striking workers continued their protest at the municipal headquarters, Mauryalok. They appealed for a resolution of their demands through respectful dialogue. Committee leaders allege that the municipal corporation claims that sanitation is back to normal, but the piles of garbage in many parts of the city belie the corporation’s claims. They say that merely conducting formal campaigns will not solve the problem. The protest will continue until the demands are met.
Labor organizations came out in support of sanitation workers
Significantly, labor unions are now also supporting this. ACTU has announced demonstrations at all district headquarters in Bihar in support of the demands of municipal sanitation workers. If a solution is not found soon, restoring normal sanitation in the capital could become an even greater challenge. Currently, the standoff between the municipal corporation and the striking workers continues, and ordinary citizens are being most affected.