BENGALURU 25 MARCH

The city is staring at a potential garbage crisis as thousands of garbage collection vehicle drivers are planning an indefinite strike from Wednesday to press for their long-pending demands. If the strike goes on as planned, Bengaluru could once again witness heaps of uncollected waste piling up ahead of the Ugadi and Eid-ul-Fitr festivals.

Garbage collection auto-rickshaws, tippers, and trucks may come to a standstill as drivers, in association with various unions, are preparing to halt operations. If the protest is not withdrawn, around 4,000 garbage autos, 700 garbage trucks, and 2,000 tipper vehicles will cease operations, bringing waste collection in the city to a grinding halt.

Speaking to Salar News on Tuesday, members of BBMP Pourakarmika Sangha expressed frustration over unfulfilled promises by the Congress Government to implement the IPD Salappa Committee report which recommends regularising over 10,000 workers and permanent employment status  for drivers and helpers and inclusion of contract labourers under direct wage workers. They claim that despite Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s assurances, no action has been taken.  In 2011, garbage collectors in the city received a 150 per cent hike in their salaries, apart from benefits such as ESI and PF. Their monthly pay was increased to Rs 6,900 from Rs 2,500 a month.