SHIMLA: The garbage crisis in Himachal Pradesh capital intensified on Monday as sanitation workers of Sahib Society continued their strike for the third consecutive day. With no collection for three days, piles of waste have accumulated in residential areas, markets and streets, raising serious concerns over hygiene and public health.
Workers gathered at CTO Chowk in the morning and staged a noisy protest against the Municipal Corporation administration. The Sahib Society Employees Union has made it clear that they will not resume work until their main demand for salary revision is met in writing. Union president Jaswant Singh said employees are united and they were not satisfied with verbal assurances or a mere phone call about calling an AGM after the code of conduct.
The prolonged strike has left thousands of households without garbage pickup, creating an unhealthy environment, especially as temperatures are rising. Local residents have complained about the foul smell and fear of disease spread in several parts of the city.
In response to the deadlock, the Shimla Municipal Corporation has taken a major practical step. The administration has invited tenders to outsource the sanitation work to private contractors. Under the new arrangement, contractors will deploy their own workers to collect garbage from households and take it to collection centres. The corporation will then handle transportation from these centres to the Bharial waste processing plant using its own vehicles.
Officials said this system will ensure regular cleaning even if regular workers continue to stay away. If the strike is not called off, the new outsourced arrangement is expected to be fully operational after May 20. The move is being seen as a necessary measure to safeguard public health and maintain basic civic services in the tourist city.
Municipal Commissioner Bhupendra Atri appealed to the workers to return to duty immediately. He said the administration has taken their demands seriously and an AGM has been called right after the model code of conduct. Atri stressed that employees must understand their responsibility towards the city.
Meanwhile, the district administration has already invoked ESMA to maintain essential services. The corporation has prepared a list of workers who remained on strike, including union leaders, and submitted it to the Deputy Commissioner. Action under ESMA is likely, which may include salary cuts for the strike period and possible disciplinary proceedings against those found instigating others.
Reports suggest that several regular workers have shown willingness to return after the notices and ESMA orders. However, the union leadership has been accused of putting pressure on them not to join work. The commissioner confirmed that such complaints have been received.
The situation remains tense. While the outsourcing decision aims to provide a long-term practical solution to frequent disruptions in sanitation services, immediate relief for residents depends on how quickly normal collection resumes. City authorities are hoping that a combination of dialogue and firm administrative steps will help restore normalcy before the garbage problem spirals further.
