Friday, 08 March 2024 | PNS | DEHRADUN
Heaps of garbage have piled up in various parts of Dehradun due to the indefinite strike of sanitation workers since Tuesday. Many residents have started dumping garbage in the open near main roads due to the unavailability of door-to-door garbage collection service. They said that they are forced to dump garbage in the open claiming they have no other option available. The municipal employees along with sanitation workers continued their strike on Thursday after the Salt MLA Mahesh Jeena reportedly misbehaved with Dehradun municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar and staff on Tuesday.
The offices in the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) premises also remained closed but the severe impact of the strike was visible in roadside areas. Heaps of garbage could be observed on Dispensary Road, Tehsil Chowk, Sahastradhara Road, Haridwar Road, Balbir Road, Nehru Colony Road, Raipur Road and East Canal Road, among several other areas. Many people were seen dumping garbage in big plastic bags. When this correspondent questioned a man about dumping garbage near Haridwar Road, he said that his house did not have enough space to collect the garbage for four days. “The door-to-door garbage collection vehicle is not regular in our area. We can manage for a day or two but it is not possible to store the garbage at home for over four days, especially when you have a big family. We know about the strike but MCD should make alternate arrangements for garbage collection otherwise we are forced to dump the garbage somewhere outside our homes,” the man said.
Many shopkeepers in marketplaces also expressed concern over people dumping garbage in the open which is making the whole area stink. They said that not just locals but many shopkeepers and eatery staff have also started dumping garbage in open areas as the quantity of garbage generated on their premises is more than the households. However, MCD employees and sanitation workers said that they will not resume work until Jeena apologises or authorities take strict action against him.
The police also registered a case against Jeena late on Wednesday after MCD workers gave a complaint letter to the police. The protestors claimed that no official of the state administration or government has contacted them so far to assure them that strict action will be taken in the matter.
