Rajbiraj: The row between sanitation workers and sanitation department in-charge at Rajbiraj Municipality is posing a threat to the health of locals. Daily wage workers at Rajbiraj Municipality sanitation department have halted work for the past one week demanding the ouster of municipality sanitation in-charge Umesh Yadav.

Garbage on the streets has not been collected for the last one week owing to protest. The entire municipality has been stinking because of the agitation. Kebal Mahat, a sanitation worker complained that Yadav has been exploiting them ever since he was appointed as the in-charge. He said Yadav was making them work three times a day without paying them additional amount. Dipnarayan Mehatar, another worker said that Yadav had ignored the fact that their timing had been fixed from 6 to 11 am. “How can we sweep the street, clean the sewage and pick garbage with a one-time remuneration? Mehatar asked. Manoj Mehetar, another worker complained that Yadav had made them work at his house as well.
Of the 24 sanitation workers at Rajbiraj Municipality, 20 are daily wage earners while 4 have permanent postings. Of the permanent workers, Laxman Mehatar said that four permanent workers could not work due to the agitation of temporary labourers. Meanwhile, Yadav refuted the allegation. He said he had asked them to work three times a day until a tractor for ferrying garbage, that had broken down, was repaired. Locals fear the uncollected garbage may cause an epidemic.

Source: The Himalayan Times, August 8, 2011