Noida: Almost a week after the sanitation workers’ strike ended, residents of sectors 122 and 99 have said the garbage collection system is still not back to normal. Since Friday, the workers have discharged their duty on one day, they said. As a result, waste has been piling up on street corners, with a foul smell pervading nearby areas.President of the residents’ welfare association in Sector 122 Shiv Kumar Tiwari said he has written a letter to Noida Authority regarding the situation. He addressed the general manager of the public health department and said the waste collection system has “virtually collapsed” and could lead to a health crisis soon.According to Tiwari, when asked why they have been irregular with waste collection, the sanitation workers said they had not been receiving their wages on time. He urged immediate redressal of the problem. “The accumulating waste poses risks not only to public health but also raises the potential for disease transmission, a growing concern among the community,” he said.RWA general secretary of Sector 122 Nitin Chauhan echoed the concerns and emphasised the urgent need for accountability. “Cleanliness is a basic necessity for us,” he added. He called on officials to take immediate action and restore regular sanitation services.Apart from untended waste, residents of Sector 99 said irregular weeding has led to overgrown bushes in the area. General secretary of the RWA Vinod Choudhary expressed concern over the unsanitary conditions of overgrown trees and shrubs in the sector. “Why are we being punished by having to live in this jungle? Snakes, mongooses and other wild animals have been spotted in these shrubberies. They are often coming onto the roads and posing a threat to residents,” he said.
Snakes and mongooses have been spotted in the overgrown shrubberies in Sector 99
Meanwhile, Noida Authority officials have assured that both the issues — of waste-picking and untended horticulture — would be addressed soon.The strike that ended on Friday was the third one in the last seven months. Protesting workers have raised concerns over job security, wage increments, uniforms, supervisory hierarchy and other essential needs. There are about 5,000 sanitation workers in Noida. While contractors change every year, the workers stay on. They are not on the Authority’s direct payroll but are paid through the contractors.The strike was called off after the workers’ demands were placed before Noida Authority CEO for consideration.
