'Swachh Hyderabad' turns into garbage bin
Hyderabad, July 8 (INN): The twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad have turned into a garbage bin as the indefinite strike called by the municipal employees entered third day on Wednesday.
The municipal employees staged massive protests at the GHMC Headquarters and other zonal offices in the city. The striking employees also foiled the GHMC's efforts to clean the garbage using alternates. The employees attacked the temporary vehicles and staff at several places in the city on Wednesday.
According to rough estimates, nearly 15 tonnes of garbage got accumulated on the streets of Hyderabad. The situation has turned worse in the Old City where more garbage gets produced during the month of Ramzan in view of Iftar and other festivities. The strike has nullified Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao's previous announcements that garbage would be lifted twice a day during the month of Ramzan.
The employees have been demanding that increase in payment from Rs. 8,500 to Rs. 16,000 per month, regularisation of all contract employees and health cards for all municipal employees. The government will have to bear an additional burden of nearly Rs. 200 crore per annum if it accepts the demands. The employees alleged that while the government was pending huge amounts on purchase of machineries, it was not giving any importance to welfare of staff. They also alleged that GHMC Commissioner and Special Officer Somesh Kumar was acting more like a politician and not a bureaucrat. They accused him of keeping the Chief Minister in dark about the real situation.
News Posted: 8 July, 2015
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