Gurugram sanitation strike enters ninth day; waste accumulates

Garbage has piled up in parts of Gurugram as a strike by Municipal Corporation of Gurugram sanitation workers entered its ninth day, leaving roads unswept and waste uncollected in several neighbourhoods.

Residents in Sector 23A, Surya Vihar and Ardee City reported overflowing refuse on roadsides and vacant plots. Rainwater has mixed with waste, creating foul-smelling patches near homes and public roads. Waste was also reported around Ram Chowk and Old Delhi-Gurgaon Road.

The Haryana Sarv Karamchari Sangh, which is leading the protest, said around 2,800 workers were participating. The union has demanded regularisation of workers, an end to outsourcing of sanitation and sewerage work, recruitment for vacant posts, and implementation of the old pension scheme. It said these issues were included in a May settlement with the government but had not been acted on.

MCG joint commissioner for the Swachh Bharat Mission Preet Pal Singh said the corporation had asked private agencies to clear waste from roads and public places. He said striking workers were obstructing private sanitation staff and that MCG was trying to engage more workers for the cleanup.