Hyderabad: Almost 20,000 tonnes of garbage have piled up on the city’s roads of which the GHMC could clear a mere 1,800 tonnes in the last 12 hours.
On Sunday, around 7,400 temporary workers were deployed across the city. Of the 400 Swachh Hyderabad divisions, 374 hired 20 workers each and a vehicle to clear the garbage.
The arrangement will continue, till the strike is called off, officials said. The GHMC has 24,000 workers and 3,000 skilled workers who keep the city clean. A total of 42,000 workers from all municipalities and municipal corporations in the state are participating in the strike
Mr A. Shankar, Greater Hyderabad Bhagyanagar Municipal Union general secretary, said there were no talks on Sunday. “We are being told that the workers should first join duty and then hold talks on their demands.”
Mr. Shankar said “We are not going to withdraw the strike till our demands are met. We want a pay rise according to the 10th Pay Revision Commission recommendations. Some of the leaders told that this is a new state and giving the hike might not be possible. Many of our predecessors fought for pay scales on par with permanent employees and we aren’t going to give up our rights.”
The workers unions are also demanding two-bedroom houses, Provident Fund benefits and health cards.
