Patiala, May 11
Civic conditions continued to worsen across several parts of Punjab on Monday as sanitation workers remained on strike for the sixth consecutive day, leading to mounting garbage heaps and growing inconvenience for residents.
In Patiala, large piles of waste were seen piling up across the city after members of the Sweeper Union suspended sanitation services as part of their ongoing protest. Residents complained of foul smell and unhygienic conditions as garbage collection came to a standstill.
The protesting workers also staged a dharna at Sheran Wala Gate in Patiala, blocking the area while raising slogans against the government and municipal authorities.
Speaking during the protest, Sweeper Union Patiala president Babu Ram Babbu alleged that sanitation workers have been working for nearly 15 years on a salary of just Rs 10,000 per month. He claimed that successive governments repeatedly assured workers that their services would be regularised, but no concrete action has been taken so far.
“We have neither received a salary hike nor permanent employment despite years of service. Left with no other option, we have launched this indefinite protest,” he said.
Babbu further stated that sanitation services have been halted in several major cities across Punjab and warned that the agitation would continue until the state government and municipal corporations address their demands.
Expressing concern over the accumulation of garbage, he said sanitation workers themselves feel embarrassed by the deteriorating conditions in cities, but added that the government must also pay attention to the welfare and rights of those responsible for maintaining cleanliness.
The strike is now affecting daily life in urban areas, with residents urging authorities and union leaders to reach a resolution at the earliest.
