Garbage Crisis Grips Chennai as Sanitation Workers Protest Privatization Deal

As of August 5th, 2025, a major garbage crisis has gripped key areas of Chennai, with thousands of sanitation workers abstaining from work for the past 5 days. The workers are protesting a 2,500 crore waste management privatization deal that the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has signed.

Around 3,000 of the 4,000 sanitation workers in the affected zones have been on strike, leading to the accumulation of over 10,000 tons of waste on the streets of Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, Ambattur, Anna Nagar, and Tondiarpet. This has severely disrupted the lives of nearly 45 lakh residents, or almost half the city's population.

In response, the GCC has deployed a few permanent staff to collect garbage, but residents report that the situation remains dire, with overflowing dumpsters and piles of waste on the roads. The contractor hired to take over the affected zones, Chennai Enviro, has promised to hire 4,500 staff, import tipper lorries, and procure battery-operated vehicles to address the crisis. They also plan to absorb the protesting workers into their workforce.

The sanitation workers are demanding better wages and job security, as the contractor plans to offer a daily wage of 600, lower than the 700 fixed by the Chennai Collector. However, the contractor claims the total CTC is higher at 22,500 per month, as per GCC's project stipulations.

While the GCC has dismissed accusations of worker mistreatment, the opposition has criticized the privatization move. The situation remains tense, with the crisis likely to continue until a resolution is reached between the workers, the GCC, and the contractor.