In Panipat, garbage lifted under police protection

Mukesh Tandon

Tribune News Service

Panipat, May 16

Employees of the private company concerned started lifting of garbage under police protection in four wards of the city on Wednesday even as members of the Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangh staged dharna for the eighth consecutive day.

The protesting employees took out a march from the Palika Market to the residence of local MLA Rohita Rewri to submit a memorandum. As she was not available, they submitted memorandum to her PA.

Roads, streets and corners of parks, schools, colleges and markets remained a dumping ground due to non-lifting of garbage for eight days. Heaps of garbage were seen on every road and street in the city.

Gaurav Likha, general secretary of the Sanyukt Vyapar Mandal, said markets had become a dumping ground due to the strike. Residents were facing problems in routine MC work as its offices wore a deserted look.

Lifting of garbage was started by employees of JBM, a private company, under police protection. It was stopped around noon after they came to know about the death of a protesting fireman.

Deputy Commissioner Sumedha Kataria directed the MC authorities to get garbage lifted ward-wise so that police protection could be provided with ease.

Following her direction, employees of the JBM started lifting garbage in ward 14 on Wednesday and covered wards 15, 16 and 17 under police protection. Vipul Sharma, JBM incharge, said he had more than 400 workers, around 250 of whom were on strike.

He said he started work with around 125 workers on Wednesday and lifted garbage from four wards under police protection. He said he would cover four wards on Thursday, but the work would be started under police protection because they were getting threats from striking employees.