TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: Garbage collection came to an abrupt halt and the municipal administration went haywire on Thursday after Margao civic employees and workers struck work in protest against last night’s arrest of nine municipal employees following a complaint by the municipal chief officer.
Garbage piled up at every nook and corner of the city since morning, as waste collection failed to take off with workers refusing to join duties following last night’s incident. Chief Officer Deepali Naik tried to convince the workers to resume duties, but in vain. She made her presence felt in the municipal garage at the Old Market and later at the municipal building with a plea to the workers to collect the waste, but the workers stuck to their guns by refusing to join any work. Hopes were raised of a solution to problem when the nine employees, including union leader Anil Shirodkar, were bailed out by the court at around 1 pm. Shirodkar and the eight employees later headed to the municipal building where they were greeted by the waiting municipal employees with garlands.
Anil was later huddled inside the chamber of the MMC Chairperson Dayanand Deulkar and other councillors as the city fathers impressed upon the employees for a solution. Even as Deulkar promised to immediately issue the promotional orders to the employees, Anil demanded to know whether the employees have to go behind the bars to seek justice. While demanding that the chief officer withdraw a false complaint lodged with the police against the employees, Anil sought to remind the city fathers that this is the first time that municipal employees had to face arrest upon complaint of a chief officer.
It was only in the evening that the workers resumed duties after 3 pm after the municipal administration issued the promotional orders for the four workers -– which had been a bone of contention between the workers and the chief officer.
Sanitary inspector Viraj Arabekar said that municipal trucks have fanned out to various parts of the city to lift the piling garbage. He said efforts are on to clear the accumulated waste by late Thursday evening.
When contacted, Chief Officer Deepali Naik said her office has signed the promotional orders today, adding that she has not taken any decision on withdrawal of her complaint against the employees.
