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Our Reporter
Dimapur, Oct. 26 (EMN): Barely two days after members of the Dimapur Municipal Council Employees’ Welfare Union (DMCEWU), including 170 sanitation workers, began their “no pay no work” agitation over non-payment of salary, Dimapur is faced with the stark reality of waste mismanagement as uncleared waste irks the citizens.
Garbage in the Dimapur municipal area has piled up as DMC sanitation workers have been off the road for the last few days, causing inconvenience not only to the commuters and shopkeepers but also obstructing traffic moving by occupying the space for parking.
A shopkeeper at Midland in Dimapur said that it has been two days since the garbage has been lying uncleared outside his shop, emitting foul smell.
Another shopkeeper near Clock Tower said it was the third day that the garbage has been piling up, causing traffic congestion and inconvenience.
‘If it continues to pile up for another few days, we may fall sick in this weather; and with the ongoing (rise in) dengue cases, we may fall victim to it,’ the shopkeeper lamented.
A DMC worker told Eastern Mirror that the municipal council has been placed in a difficult situation following the government’s prohibition of toll collection, which has suspended its main source of revenue.
It has been four months since the DMC employees have not been paid their salary, starting from the month of July.
“The DMCEWU had sought support from the government but with no positive response from the government we were compelled to go ahead with the proposed agitation. However, we will be resuming our work from Thursday (Oct. 27)”, he added.
Meanwhile, the DMCEWU resolved to temporarily suspend the ongoing agitation following an emergency meeting on Wednesday, after receiving a letter from the Municipal Affairs department.
An update from the union stated that the agitation had been kept in abeyance till November 8.
During the meeting, the house resolved to go for an indefinite agitation and “no appeal request” entertained if the government fails to fulfil its demand within the stipulated period.