Hirakud: When Hirakud industrial area was included in Sambalpur Municipal Corporation, people were hopeful that they would get better sanitation facility. But the reality belies their hopes. There are several reasons for the deplorable condition in this industrial area.
Labourers engaged in sanitation work are not getting salaries regularly as in the case of sanitation staff. Workers claim they have not received their salaries for three months although the contractors have already withdrawn the staff’s salaries. To mark their protest, the sanitation workers staged a sit-in at Hirakud NAC office Friday.
All the sanitation works in Sambalpur, starting from lifting garbage to scavenging, are given to big contractors. But in Hirakud and Burla, the same works are carried out by some petty contractors. It is alleged that local leaders are supplying labourers to these contractors.
It is alleged that SMC is spending crores of rupees on sanitation, but people are not getting the expected results. Due to lack of SMC’s direct supervision, it is alleged, the contractors are helping themselves with the money meant for sanitation through various means like manpower overbilling and falsely showing tractors being used in lifting garbage.
Each ward here has a contractor, without the required number of sanitation workers. Often, they complain that they are not supplied with dresses, brooms and other instruments, hampering their work.
Locals alleged that instead of tender process, the contract of sanitation is divided among contractors. Locals further alleged that though PF is being deducted from the salaries of the workers, it is not being deposited in their accounts.
When contacted, Bimalendu Ray, commissioner, SMC, expressed ignorance about the workers’ strike. Out of three months, two months’ salaries have already been sanctioned and there should not be any reason for workers not being paid, he added. PNN
