Corporation owes Rs 8cr to cleaning contractors

The city corporation owes dues to the tune of Rs 8cr to the contractors, who are supplying men and machinery for solid waste management in the city. The deadlock over the issue has not just affected the sanitary workers but, also the city's sanitation.

Representatives of Vardhan Enterprises told TOI that they could not pay salaries on time to the workers or give them higher bonus as the city corporation is yet to pay them. "We are already taking loans to pay salaries and are paying huge interest for them. It is difficult for us to pay the salaries on time. The corporation is releasing the amount, but we have pending dues," said a representative.

Due to the non-payment of salary on time, workers indulge in strikes and protests every month. "Getting our salary is a huge struggle every month," said Selvam, one of the contract sanitary workers.

Sanitary workers said that they were getting salaries only after 15 of every month. "This has been the case for several years. The contractor never pays on time, so we have to leave work and protest. That leads to garbage piling up. Residents blame us for that. How can we work without salary?" asked Dharmaraj, a sanitary worker.

The accounts department could not be reached for comment. But, several officials at the corporation agreed that bills were also piling up just like the garbage as the financial position of the corporation was not good.

Corporation commissioner K Vijayakarthikeyan said they had recently cleared Rs 100cr-worth pending dues of various contractors after funds were released from the State government. "We are paying the contractors as and when the amount is released and ensure it will not prolong for long," he said.