Amravati door-to-door garbage collection stalls, Konark firm's work questioned
Residents say collection vehicles have not come for a month, while the firm's workers allege irregular and below-minimum wages.
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Residents of Amravati are suffering filth because of the way Konark company, which has been entrusted with cleaning the city, is working. Complaints are coming in from several areas that the vehicles meant for door-to-door garbage collection have not come by for a month.
The garbage problem has kept growing since Ganeshotsav, and people are fed up. The question being asked is why the sanitation system is not back on track despite crores of rupees being spent.
Garbage collection has also gone haywire in the city's newly settled colonies. Residents say the vehicle earlier came every two days, but now comes once in 15 to 20 days.
Sarang Bolke has demanded that the municipal corporation, which collects a cleaning fee, make some other arrangement for residents. Homemaker Rona Ghadge asked how many days garbage is to be stored at home. The accumulated garbage is giving off a stench, and the risk of health problems is also rising.
Meanwhile, employees of Konark company allege that they are not paid regularly. They complain that wages are held up for two months and that what they receive is less than the minimum wage. They also say there are irregularities in Provident Fund (PF) and Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) amounts, and that no salary slips are given.
The employees have submitted a memorandum to the divisional commissioner, the district collector and the labour commissioner. They have demanded an inquiry into the company's records.
A shortage of vehicles is also being cited as a major reason. The municipal corporation had asked the company to provide more than 100 vehicles. It is said that vehicles hired from earlier contractors were returned after court proceedings, because of which the number of available vehicles fell by more than 70. This has had a direct impact on door-to-door garbage collection.
Konark company has been instructed to carry out cleaning work at full capacity. It has been stated that the shortage of vehicles has affected garbage collection in some areas and that the situation is improving.
