Garbage dumped in Sector 45, Chandigarh, Saturday. Kamleshwar Singh Garbage dumped in Sector 45, Chandigarh, Saturday. Kamleshwar Singh TENSION BETWEEN the garbage collectors and Chandigarh Municipal Corporation escalated on Tuesday when 500 garbage collectors were detained by the police after they tried to stop Municipal Corporation’s trolleys from carrying garbage to the dumping ground and the processing plant at Dadumajra. The garbage collectors were taken to the Sector 34 police station and released by evening with a warning. However, the Municipal Corporation sought the help of the police and transported the garbage to the dumping ground and processing plant. As the collectors refused to end the strike, as many as 22 trolleys of MC — belonging to sanitary, horticulture and other wings — were tasked with collection of garbage. Also, due to the absence of police force, firemen were asked to accompany two officials in each of the 22 trolleys. Although firemen resented the decision, Municipal Commissioner K K Yadav said that he had to prevent the city from an epidemic and when such a serious situation arises, every staff member, be it a clerk or he himself, would be involved in the cleaning of the city. “Today, as the police force was deployed at Dadumajra, we couldn’t get the force and thus just to boost the confidence of our staff, firemen were deployed with them. One reason was because they wear the dress almost similar to that of the police. From tomorrow, we will get the police force,” Yadav said. The commissioner has passed orders that leave of the entire staff has been cancelled until the strike ends. The Municipal Corporation has now decided to hire 30 trolleys from outside on a daily basis. Each trolley will cost Rs 2,800 a day. The rental cost will cover the charges of a driver and two helpers. The garbage was lifted from 1 4 sectors on Tuesday, including sectors 7, 10, 12, 15,16, 21, 23, 27, 46, 48, 49 and two others. Sehaj Safai Kendras were being cleaned by evening. The commissioner stated he could not roll back the decision. “How can I say that segregation won’t be done? As per solid waste management rules 2016, segregation of waste has to be done and if I roll back the decision, it is not a legal act,” he said. “How will I be able to face the court of law if I reverse the decision?” The MC Commissioner has also written to the Senior Superintendent of Police asking for 104 police officials from Wednesday. Mayor Davesh Moudgil told mediapersons MC would not yield to any pressure and they were legally bound to carry out segregation. “Since we won’t reverse the decision as we are legally bound and we want our city clean, we won’t take any pressure. Garbage collectors should end the strike now,” he said at a press conference. Politics on display Political parties made the most of the situation and tried to encash the garbage collectors’ strike. While BJP councillor Rajesh Kalia addressed the collectors, Congress leader Manish Tewari too came to the spot and spoke to the garbage collectors. Registrations open Registrations are open for 1,437 garbage collectors to get them registered with MC for jobs. Municipal Commissioner K K Yadav said that any of these workers who wants job can come forward and he would be put on rolls with MC on a first-come-first served basis. 5 booked for threatening MC employees The Chandigarh Police booked five persons, including a woman, for threatening Municipal Corporation employees engaged in garbage collection in Sector 8 on Monday. The five accused were identified as Monu, Sanjay, Kirti, Anopp and Vinod. Although other people were present along with the five when the MC employees were threatened, their identity could not established. Police said the complaint was filed by Ishu Singla, an official of MC health department. Singla was informed about the names of accused by MC employees who were deputed for collecting the garbage in Sector 8. Sources said the accused forcibly took the keys of tractor-trolley in which garbage was being loaded by the MC employees. The accused also obstructed the garbage collectors from performing their duties. A case under sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC was registered at the Sector 3 police station. For all the latest Chandigarh News, download Indian Express App

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