Shimla, May 20: The summer capital Shimla is grappling with a severe sanitation crisis after the Municipal Corporation (MC) terminated the services of 40 sanitation workers for refusing to end their six-day strike despite the imposition of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).
With garbage collection suspended across large parts of the city, heaps of waste have piled up on roadsides, markets and public spaces, triggering health and hygiene concerns among residents and tourists alike. Reports said garbage has not been lifted from several areas for nearly a week, leaving the hill town struggling with foul smell and deteriorating civic conditions.
Officials said the strike by sanitation workers has badly affected cleanliness operations across the 32-km radius of Shimla city. Stray dogs and monkeys have also been spotted rummaging through garbage dumps, creating inconvenience for pedestrians and shopkeepers.
The protesting workers are demanding a 10 per cent annual hike in honorarium. More than 800 sanitation workers associated with the city’s cleaning operations have reportedly joined the agitation.
According to workers’ representatives, a meeting with Shimla Mayor Surender Chauhan was held on Tuesday, during which an assurance was allegedly sought in writing regarding the increment demand. However, the employees claimed no written commitment was provided, following which the strike continued.
CITU leader Vijendra Mehra accused the municipal administration of not taking the workers’ demands seriously. He said employees would continue the strike in view of the corporation’s “negative attitude”.
Several unions and organisations, including hotel associations, street vendors, anganwadi workers, pensioners’ groups and farmers’ bodies, have extended support to the striking sanitation workers.
Meanwhile, the civic body has appealed to residents to cooperate until sanitation services are restored.
