Sanitation Crisis Grips Bareilly: Strike Disrupts City Services

Sanitation services in Bareilly faced a severe breakdown on Wednesday as outsourced workers intensified their agitation. The workers have halted door-to-door waste collection, leading to significant garbage accumulation on major city roads and intersections, including prominent areas like Budaun Road and Satellite Chowraha.

The striking sanitation workers, under the leadership of Ashish Kumar, have declared an indefinite boycott. Their core demands center on the immediate implementation of government-mandated wages through outsourcing agencies and the withdrawal of a police case registered against Kumar and five other union members.

The police case, filed on Monday following an incident at the city health officer's office, reportedly involves allegations of protesters throwing bangles at an official. Charges include obstructing a public servant from discharging their duties.

In response to the growing crisis, Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar Maurya convened an emergency meeting with senior officials. Maurya expressed optimism that sanitation work would normalize within one to two days, stating that the workers' grievances have been addressed.

However, union leaders remain steadfast, asserting that the strike will persist until tangible steps are taken to meet their demands, despite the administration's assurances.