Fazilka turns into open dump

Blurb: Workers on strike, garbage not lifted for 20 days

Fazilka, June 1

Residents are peeved at garbage not being lifted in the town for the past 20 days owing to a strike by sanitation worker.

As many as 190 regular and contractual workers had proceeded on strike in support of their demands on May 13. As a result, piles of garbage can be seen littered across the town.

The employees have been demanding regularisation and increase in salaries.

Official sources said nearly 600 ton garbage had piled up in different parts of the town. On average, 30 ton garbage was collected daily from 16,000 households in the town.

The situation had turned ugly on May 28 when Congress-led Fazilka Municipal Council president Surinder Sachdeva and other councillors tried to lift the garbage near Shastri Chowk using private resources, but some sanitary workers restrained them from doing so, claiming it would impact their strike.

On the intervention of SDM Keshav Goyal, the MC chief and others had to step back and the lifting of garbage was stopped to ensure harmony between the sanitary workers and councillors.

Foul smell has been emanating from the mounds of garbage across the town. At some places, garbage is being set on fire, causing inconvenience to residents, especially those infected by Covid-19 who face breathing problems.

Sanitary inspector Naresh Khera said they would lift the garbage once the strike by the workers ended.