Sanitation workers across Punjab have returned to their duties, bringing an end to a nearly three-week-long strike. Following the resumption of services, municipal councils and corporations have launched an extensive, statewide operation to clear the significant accumulations of garbage that had formed in urban centres during the period of industrial action.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that heavy machinery, including JCB excavators, tractor-trolleys, and dumpers, has been deployed to remove the large piles of waste from markets, residential areas, and roadside collection points. Municipal officials have cautioned that residents may need to wait a few more days before normal sanitation services, such as door-to-door waste collection and routine street sweeping, can be fully reinstated.
The immediate objective of the sanitation drive is to address the backlog of garbage that compounded during the strike and the subsequent monsoon rains. Officials stated that this backlog presents a significant challenge, requiring substantial effort to clear.
Punjab’s Local Bodies and Education Minister, Harjot Singh Bains, confirmed that garbage clearance operations have commenced throughout the state. He indicated that an understanding had been reached between the government and representatives of the sanitation workers, addressing the core issues that led to the strike, thereby effectively concluding the industrial action.
Despite the commencement of work, the sanitation process is reportedly progressing slower than anticipated. A sanitary inspector from a municipal council, who preferred to remain anonymous, cited the sheer volume of accumulated garbage and the deteriorating condition of roads leading to dumping sites as primary reasons for the slower pace. “Garbage was dumped at hundreds of locations during the strike. We have a limited number of JCB machines, and they are being deployed on a rotational basis,” the inspector stated.
The official further elaborated on the logistical hurdles, noting that “the road leading to the main dumping ground has become slippery, muddy and full of potholes after the rains. Vehicles are moving at a snail’s pace and often get stuck. It may take another four to five days before the accumulated garbage is cleared,” according to a sanitary official from Ludhiana.
Residents in many cities continue to grapple with the pervasive issue of overflowing waste. Rajesh Kumar, a resident of Ludhiana’s Ram Nagar locality, described the situation near the DIG office and under the old Lakkar Bridge flyover, where tonnes of waste remain. “After the recent rains, the garbage has started emitting a foul smell. The service lane is almost blocked, leaving very little space for commuters. We have to cover our faces while passing through the area. Mosquitoes and flies have become a major problem,” Kumar said.
The settlement agreement between the Punjab government and the sanitation workers includes provisions for outsourced sanitation workers to be integrated into the contractual system, with an increased monthly salary of Rs 20,500. Additionally, employees who have been working on contract since 2021 are slated for regularization.
The strike has also reignited discussions regarding the long-term modernization of Punjab’s sanitation infrastructure. Environmentalist Col (Retd) Jasjit Singh Gill emphasized the critical need to bolster the sanitation workforce rather than depending solely on manual labour.
“The people who keep our cities clean deserve dignity, better wages, safer working conditions and modern equipment. We need lighter and more efficient tools, protective gear, mechanised cleaning systems and proper training. Mechanisation should complement workers, not replace them,” Gill remarked, advocating for a balanced approach to sanitation management.
Gill further stressed that sustained cleanliness cannot be achieved through governmental actions alone. He suggested that principles of cleanliness and civic responsibility should be integrated into school curricula, alongside fostering greater public participation to maintain hygienic surroundings.
Officials maintain that the ongoing clearance drive is expected to restore normal sanitation levels within the coming days. However, preventing the recurrence of such crises will necessitate sustained investment in mechanization, improved worker welfare, and the adoption of scientific waste management practices. Currently, some municipal councils and corporations possess sweeping machines, but their deployment has been hindered by resistance from sanitation workers.
The Chenab Times News Desk