The East Delhi Municipal Corporation’s sanitation workers have been on an indefinite strike since 5 January due to non-payment of salaries since October 2016. Consequently, over the past few days, the area lies buried under 7,000 tonnes of waste.
However, things got messier on the 6th day of the strike on Tuesday after protesting sanitation workers dumped garbage outside the residence of Raju Dhingan, the Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Trilokpuri.
Apart from the unbearable stench, residents fear outbreak of diseases. The garbage-clogged streets also causing traffic congestion. Laxmi Nagar and Geeta Colony are the worst-affected areas.
Earlier on Monday, the president of the Swachhata Karmchari Morcha Sanjay Gehlot said, “We are yet to be paid three months' salary (October-December), DA and bonus. Due to this, we aren't able to pay our children’s school fees and marriages have been postponed. We will continue with the strike until our demands are met.”
In the wake of this garbage crisis, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had earlier hit out at the BJP-run civic bodies, accusing them of being plagued by “grave corruption”, even as the AAP government announced Rs 119 crore funds for the EDMC.
In a press conference, the senior AAP leader claimed that “enough funds have been given to the municipal bodies, but one doesn't know where that money is going”.
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