Safai sewaks’ strike continues, streets turn garbage dumps

Our Correspondent

Abohar, March 20

Streets in most residential colonies here are turning into garbage dumps as Municipal Council officials have not initiated any move to end the eight-day-long strike by 300 regular and ad hoc safai sewaks.

The clerical, mechanical and technical staff of the council is also on strike. This has resulted in the suspension of the recovery of taxes from 1.67 lakh residents. This has made the financial position of the cash-strapped civic body serious.

MC president Pramil Kalani, facing suspension notices, had emailed his resignation letter to the state government, but it has not been termed legal. The law requires him to submit the resignation on letter head in person or by registered post.

Executive Officer Vijay Jindal had proceeded on five-week leave. Now, Fazilka-based EO Rajesh Kumar has been told by the state government to look after work of all the councils in the district. No meeting has so far been called to pass the annual budget.

Ad-hoc Safai Sewak Union representatives said on Tuesday that the council had not paid money to the contractor who had recruited them in January. Regular safai sewaks are also demanding salary for the past three months.

“The district administration had directed the council to pay Rs 8 lakh to the contractor. We had submitted the list of our bank account numbers, but the wages are yet to be credited,” leaders of the union said.