Corporation conservancy workers have postponed their strike against privatisation of conservancy work in 254 sq. km. of the added areas in the city.
“The senior officials offered assurance that they will postpone the opening of the tender bids. So the strike has been postponed. We will take a decision on Wednesday after holding talks with the corporation officials,” said P. Srinivasan, convenor of the federation of conservancy workers against privatisation.
Business as usual
“We asked the workers to report for duty after senior officials spoke to us in the morning. Yet around 40% of them did not turn up on time. Later the numbers increased. Conservancy work was taken up,” said Mr. Srinivasan.
Corporation had floated a tender to opt for public private partnership (PPP) for taking up conservancy work in the eight added zones and the bids were to be opened on Wednesday.
Policemen deployed
Following the announcement of indefinite strike by conservancy workers, police personnel were deployed in large numbers at Ripon Buildings.
According to sources, the corporation officials said that they would open the tender in the first week of December after addressing all the concerns raised by the conservancy workers.
Senior officials of Chennai Corporation said the services contract in PPP mode will improve conservancy operations.
The payment for the private conservancy operator will be linked to 37 key performance indicators, which will revolutionise the municipal solid waste management in the city, said an official.