Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (ANK)
Mangaluru Nov 22: Opposition party BJP condemned the halting of garbage collection in city after the concerned workers went on a flash strike on Tuesday November 21, over non-disbursement of salary. It blamed Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) for the problem.
Addressing media here on Wednesday November 22, Mangaluru South BJP vice- president Vedavyas Kamath said," During the year 2015, MCC had signed an agreement and given contract to Mumbai based Anthony Waste Management (Pvt) Ltd to collect garbage and transport it to dump yard at Vamanjoor. It is said that MCC has to pay Rs 36, 31, 18,994 to the contractor Anthony Waste Management due to which the contractor is not able to pay salary to the workers. And the workers had to halt garbage disposal work,”
"The city corporation also owes Rs 4 .5 crore for two months of September and October to the contractor. Anthony waste management has also alleged that MCC is deducting 1.1% for under- construction labour fund, which is not mentioned in the agreement. It is also gathered that as per the bilateral agreement, additional money arising out of revision of minimum wages and hike in petrol and diesel costs also have to be paid to the company by MCC. This has been pending since a year. Anthony waste management has already sent legal notice to MCC in this regard,” he added.
He further said," On an average 300 to 320 tonnes of garbage gets accumulated in the city and 150 vehicles are involved in the collection and transportation of garbage. Garbage was not picked from various places in Tuesday. Waste spread out in various places of city can be seen now,”
"Mayor Kavitha Sanil conducted meeting with the officials on Tuesday evening without involving the opposition and she has assured to clear the dues. She had promised that garbage collection would resume. But even today garbage collection has not resumed. As opposition we will raise our voice until the issue is sorted out and also raise the issue during the next council meeting which is scheduled on November 28,” he concluded.
Corporator Roopa D Bangera, Sudhir Kumar Shetty and others were present.