Sanitation workers in a sit on protest in Madurai corporation building premises
Madurai : Around 3,000 sanitation and municipal workers in Madurai launched an indefinite strike on Monday, disrupting garbage collection and other civic services across the city. Union representatives said the corporation was already functioning with around 4,000 sanitation workers against a sanctioned strength of 8,000. In Sellur, where residents had already reported irregular waste collection, the strike led to larger piles of garbage and attracted stray cattle.
We are at a loss for what to do,” said M Rajesh, a resident of Vandiyur. He said many residents were left with no option but to dump waste in vacant plots or water channels. With waste collection coming to a halt, garbage piled up on roadsides, in open water channels and stormwater drains. Residents also complained of a stench from the uncollected waste. “With dustbins overflowing after just one day of no waste collection, there is nowhere for residents to get rid of their garbage. The strike followed failed talks over the weekend between union representatives, the additional director of municipal administration and Madurai Corporation commissioner Gaurav Kumar .