Patna: The strike by a section of Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) sanitation workers entered its sixth consecutive day on Tuesday, disrupting waste collection across several parts of the city and leaving residents grappling with overflowing garbage, foul odour and concerns over public health.
While heaps of waste remained visible in many neighbourhoods, the Municipal Corporation said it was continuing a special sanitation drive despite limited manpower and resources. According to the civic body, it has been collecting an average of 300 tonnes of garbage every day during the strike.
Corporation Deploys Around 100 Collection Vehicles
PMC said around 100 door-to-door garbage collection vehicles were deployed on Tuesday morning to collect waste from residential and commercial areas.
The civic body said 23 vehicles operated in the Nutan Rajdhani Zone, 15 in Azimabad, 20 in Patna City, 28 in Patliputra, and 13 in the Bankipur Zone.
In view of the Bankipur Assembly by-election vote counting at A.N. College, two additional “Open Magic” vehicles were deployed at the campus. Special cleaning operations using JCBs and tractors were also carried out at garbage collection points on Exhibition Road, Goriya Toli and Jamal Road.
Penalties Imposed On Contractors
The Municipal Corporation said it had continued taking action against private contractors, alleging they failed to provide the required manpower and vehicles under their contractual obligations during the strike.
Show-cause notices were issued to the agencies on August 1 and August 2, while financial penalties totalling more than Rs 21.95 crore were imposed.
According to PMC:
- On August 1, penalties included Rs 4.63 lakh on Virtuous India Private Limited, Rs 3.52 lakh on M4 Solutions Private Limited, and Rs 11.06 crore on Maryan Cars Auto Services.
- On August 2, additional penalties of Rs 4.72 lakh on Virtuous India, Rs 3.49 lakh on M4 Solutions, and Rs 10.73 crore on Maryan Cars Auto Services were imposed.
The Corporation said special night-time sanitation drives, supported by security personnel, were continuing to ensure waste was cleared from hospitals, major roads and commercial areas.
Striking Workers Continue Protest
Meanwhile, members of the Patna Municipal Corporation Joint Employees’ Coordination Committee continued their agitation, holding a protest meeting at the Corporation headquarters in Maurya Lok on Monday despite prohibitory orders in the complex.
Committee president Chandra Prakash Singh urged the administration to initiate respectful dialogue to resolve the impasse.
Committee spokesperson Jitendra Kumar disputed the Corporation’s claim that sanitation services were being maintained, alleging that garbage continued to accumulate across several parts of the city.
He said the sanitation system could not be restored through “photo opportunities” and called for meaningful negotiations.
Working president Ramayatna Prasad claimed the strike had been successful and said the agitation would continue until the workers’ demands were met.
Labour Organisations Extend Support
The strike has also drawn support from labour organisations.
The All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) has announced protests at district headquarters across Bihar on August 5 in support of the sanitation workers’ demands.
At a meeting in Patna, AICCTU leaders, including National General Secretary Rajiv Dimri, State President Shyamlal Prasad, State Secretary Ranvijay Kumar, and MLC Shashi Yadav, urged the Bihar government to open dialogue with the striking workers and resolve their three-point charter of demands.
Residents Bear The Brunt
With the strike entering its sixth day, residents continue to face mounting inconvenience as garbage accumulates in several localities.
While the Municipal Corporation maintains that essential sanitation services are being sustained through emergency measures, the striking workers remain firm that the protest will continue until formal talks are held and their demands are addressed, leaving the restoration of normal civic services uncertain.
