The ongoing strike by sanitation workers has severely affected the cleanliness of Sirsa city, with garbage piling up across streets, markets and designated disposal points. The strike, now extended till May 7, has left around 900 metric tonnes of waste uncollected in the city, while the district total has reached nearly 1,500 metric tonnes. Residents are facing severe inconvenience due to the rising stench and unhygienic conditions.
The municipal council and the employees’ union remain at loggerheads. The council had issued notices to private agencies responsible for door-to-door garbage collection and road sweeping. The agencies, however, accused the union president and striking employees of preventing their staff from working. Following this, the council issued a notice to Manoj Athwal, president of the Sirsa unit of the Municipal Employees’ Union, citing obstruction of official work. Athwal rejected the allegations, saying the strike was in support of legitimate demands and that agency employees were voluntarily backing them.
During the strike, the workers have been monitoring garbage points day and night. The union has instructed the employees to oppose any attempt by municipal or agency staff to lift garbage, raising fears of potential clashes between the authorities and the striking personnel.
On Wednesday, MLA Gokul Setia visited the Municipal Council to meet the protesters. He held discussions with the employees and acknowledged their demands as valid, assuring them that he would raise the issue in the state Assembly.
Meanwhile, talking to the media, municipal council Chief Sanitary Officer Jaibir Singh stated that negotiations with union leaders failed to yield an agreement. “Necessary action to restore sanitation will be taken once instructions are received from the higher authorities,” he said.
