Despite talks with Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, employees of the municipal corporations refused to call off their strike, which entered its ninth day on Thursday.
Slamming the AAP government’s loan offer and demanding more funds as a grant, the workers have decided to congregate at the Ghazipur landfill site on Friday to block all garbage trucks.
The workers’ unions met L-G Najeeb Jung on Thursday. Another meeting is scheduled for Friday.
“Our strike is still on and any chances of withdrawing it will be considered only in a day or two. We want a permanent solution to the cash-strapped municipal corporations and giving a loan is definitely not one. Against our demand of releasing a grant of Rs. 5,000 crore, a loan of Rs. 551 crore is nothing,” said Sanjay Gehlot of Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukta Morcha – the union leading the strike.
Meanwhile, Mayors of the three BJP-ruled MCDs met Mr. Sisodia and claimed the Delhi government is likely to give them Rs. 307 crore more to pay salaries.
“The Deputy CM admitted the crisis is real and there should be no delay in payment of salaries to the striking employees. He also admitted that the North and East municipal corporations needed more money,” said Subhash Arya, Mayor of South Delhi Municipal Corporation.
“Mr. Sisodia said he will talk to the L-G and Chief Minister for release of an additional Rs. 307 crore to the NDMC and EDMC,” said Ravindra Gupta, NDMC Mayor after the meeting at the Secretariat.
EDMC Mayor Harsh Malhotra said, “We asked him for a permanent solution and told him the loans extended by the Delhi government will put pressure on the MCDs which are not in a position to pay interest.”
Employees continued to stage protests where they burnt effigies of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Scores of them gathered at the Civic Center while the Joint Front of MCD Union staged massive protests at Karol Bagh.
The NDMC Commissioner, however, has warned that if the agitating employees do not resume duties with ‘immediate effect’, their names will be sent to the Delhi High Court for creating ‘nuisance’.
Agitating workers have decided to congregate at the Ghazipur landfill site on Friday
