Haryana: Private Waste Collectors' Strike Paralyses Gurugram, Garbage Piles up

New Delhi: In a significant blow to Gurugram's waste management system, the waste collectors of Ecogreen, a major solid waste management concessionaire, have embarked on a strike lasting five months due to non-payment of salaries. The result has left the city in a state of chaos, with garbage piling up on streets and residential areas.

The striking employees have halted the crucial door-to-door collection of waste, impacting both residential areas and secondary waste collection points, as reported by The Tribune.  Seeking intervention, the waste collectors have appealed to Municipal Commissioner Narhari Bangar to release their overdue salaries, adding urgency to the situation.

Municipal Commissioner Bangar responded swiftly, declaring a contingency plan and urging public support to mitigate the effects of the ongoing strike. Door-to-door collection has been severely affected since yesterday, prompting the Municipal Corporation, Gurugram (MCG), to take action.

Officials from MCG have claimed to be "better equipped" this time, hiring two private agencies for secondary waste collection, which commenced on Wednesday. To address the primary waste collection, the MCG has called upon other sanitation agencies, road sweepers, vendors, and members of resident welfare associations (RWAs) to assist in waste collection efforts.

MCG Commissioner told The Tribune, "The workers have gone on strike, and the garbage has not been lifted for two days. We have put emergency workers in place and are trying to normalise the situation, which might take some time."

In a twist to the saga, a senior official from Ecogreen revealed that the MCG owes an outstanding amount of Rs 80 crore, leading to the current standoff. Additionally, the MCG recently forfeited Ecogreen's bank guarantee of Rs 33.4 crore, aiming to recover funds for works carried out by the concessionaire.

Despite the chaos, RWAs have expressed their willingness to step in for sanitation work but demand better remuneration. United Gurugram RWAs President Parveen Yadav told The Tribune, "The city has still not recovered from the mess created in the wake of the recent strikes by the sanitation workers, and now this strike by the waste collectors of Ecogreen has added to the woes of city residents."

Meanwhile, Bangar has warned residents of premium builder colonies against disposing of garbage on roads. He pledged to penalise offenders and fine RWAs to maintain cleanliness.