Nagpur: Garbage and civic problems are mounting for the residents of Central, East, North and part of West Nagpur as the indefinite strike by workers of door-to-door garbage collection firm continued on its second day on Sunday.
Garbage was not lifted for the second consecutive day in five zones — Gandhibagh, Satranjipura, Lakadganj, Ashi Nagar and Mangalwari zones of the city — with 850 workers of BVG India, one of the garbage lifting companies, striking work over sacking of 113 employees by the company.
The city (with 10 zones) generates around 1,000 to 1,100 metric tonne garbage per day and AG Environ (Laxmi Nagar, Dharampeth, Hanuman Nagar, Dhantoli and Nehru Nagar) lifts 500 to 600 metric tonne of garbage per day. Similar is the quantum of garbage lifted by BVG workers from rest of the five zones.
The NMC’s solid waste management department is now struggling to clean up half of the city with the ongoing strike by BVG India employees. Most of the garbage vulnerable points are overflowing with waste and households are also feeling the heat with no door-to-door garbage collection took place.
According to sources, NMC’s solid waste management department has pressed its trucks to lift garbage collected through sweeping of roads. “But door-to-door collection has stopped completely,” said sources.
On Sunday too, representatives of BVG India and striking employees held a discussion, but failed to reach any conclusion, said sources.
Angry employees of BVG India on Sunday too staged protest near Jagnade Square, where the Pune company’s office is situated.
The workers alleged that on January 15, when they were performing duties, the company issued termination notices to 113 colleagues. The termination letters were delivered in their residential addresses. However, the company deposited Rs60,000 each in their salary accounts in lieu of their three months salaries, they clarified.
Unless the firm revokes the termination of 113 employees, the strike will continue in half of the city, said the striking employees. If the demand to reinstate the sacked employees was not met, the workers have threatened to intensify their stir. On Monday (January 18), the striking employees will gherao municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B, a statement issued by the striking workers stated.