Sanitation workers protest: Piles of trash plague Shimla
Queen of Hills in the dumps as MC’S negotiation with protesters fail
SHIMLA : The garbage disposal system in Shimla remained at a standstill for the fourth consecutive day as employees of the Shimla Environment, Heritage Conservation and Beautification (SEHB) society continued their protest on Friday. Protesters are demanding regularisation of jobs and raise in income besides long term policy for their welfare.
Municipal corporation on Friday organised talks with the protesting employees but the initiative failed as union leaders refused to budge.
“We constantly tried to ease out the situation. Union leaders were called for negotiations several times but they did not turn up. We tried to convince them to go back to work, hopefully they will respond positively,” said municipal corporation (MC) commissioner Rohit Jamwal.
Meanwhile, SEHB president Jaswant Singh said,“we will not return back to work unless our demands are met.” SEHB members said government should at least give them 10% increase in the salary along with a policy for their welfare.
MC had revised the garbage collection rates after its house meeting on Thursday.
IMPACT OF THE STRIKE
Ongoing strike has adversely impacted the garbage disposal as it has resulted in the piles of trash plaguing roadside and footpaths connecting different localities of the town.
The problem is more acute in the localities which lack road connectivity. “Trash mounds are increasing. Residents have no other option but to dump the garbage wherever they can find place,” a resident of cemetery in Sanjauli area said.
MC had set-up garbage collection points in several areas where trash was being lifted by its sanitation workers. Majority of the points have been set-up in the areas which have business establishments. But the bins have been placed on main roads or at vantage points, hence people have to walk up to them. As a result, people dump the trash in nullahs or forest areas around the localities.
The strike has also affected eatery shops and hotels across the town. “Strike has made things difficult for the hoteliers. For the past four days, we are collecting the garbage in plastic bags and are only waiting for garbage collectors to call off the stir,” said Harman Kukreja, Shimla Hotels and Restaurateurs Association president. The stir is bound to have negative affect on tourists,” he said.
GENESIS OF THE PROBLEM
Shimla municipal corporation (MC) was formed in 2009 to make the town litter-free. MC sanitation workers were hired for door-to-door garbage collection. In 2010, it formed committees at ward-level to collect solid waste. Majority of the SEHB workers earned ₹6,700 to ₹7,700 per month by charging ₹70 per month from each household under their respective areas.
These rates were approved in the annual general meeting of the society in 2014. However, in 2015, it was decided in the meeting to enhance these rates but it never got implemented.
The society can be deemed defunct since annual general meeting did not take place in 2016. SEHB society earned around ₹29-30 lakh per month, while the salary bill was around ₹40 lakh.