Gurugram sanitation strike enters day 12; garbage builds up

Garbage has accumulated on roads and around overflowing bins in parts of Gurugram as about 2,800 Municipal Corporation of Gurugram sanitation workers entered the 12th day of their strike on Monday.

Residents reported waste build-up in Sectors 4, 5, 9, 10, 21, 23A and 52, as well as along Old Delhi-Gurgaon Road, in Ghata and Sikanderpur. Sadar Bazar and old Gurugram have also been affected.

Workers say the Haryana government has not implemented commitments made in a May 13 settlement. Their demands include regularisation of contractual staff, recruitment to vacant posts, reinstatement of nearly 3,500 laid-off workers, and an end to outsourcing sanitation and sewerage operations.

On Monday, protesters marched from the old MCG office through Agrasen Chowk, Shama and Session House Chowk to Mayor Raj Rani Malhotra’s residence, where they submitted a memorandum. Basant Kumar of the Municipal Employees Union said workers would make the agitation indefinite if their demands were not met by August 18.

MCG said it has deployed workers from a private agency to support garbage collection during the strike. Rain has also left waste mixed with rainwater in some areas, obstructing pedestrians and commuters.