Day 1 to day 9: All you need to know about the MCD strike
Here is a look at the 9 days of MCD strike.
More than one lakh municipal workers in the national capital have been on an indefinite strike since January 27, seeking immediate release of funds for their salaries and arrears.
The deadlock continues nine days later even after Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced a Rs 551 crore loan to civic bodies to pay striking workers on Wednesday.
Here is a look at the 9 days of MCD strike.
Day 1 - Jan 27
Workers: Corporation workers start an indefinite strike and threaten to re-run last year’s mess when sanitation workers struck work — streets littered with garbage, choked sewers and poorly-maintained roads.
Govt: The Delhi government says it has already given all estimated funds to pay salaries to the municipal corporations, but asks the Centre to probe the books of the three BJP-ruled civic bodies for corruption.
AAP and BJP starts a blame game over the issue.
Day 2 - Jan 28
Workers: The workers litter the streets with garbage in many parts of the city including deputy CM Manish Sisodia’s office as strike enters day 2. Abrupt halt in the collection of garbage becomes evident with tonnes of garbage scattered along the roadside at many places in east and north Delhi.
Govt: Kejriwal demands dissolution of the BJP-ruled municipal corporations and fresh elections to the civic bodies.
Day 3 - Jan 29
Workers: The municipal commissioners write to Sisodia and seek Rs 1,500 crore as immediate relief.
Govt: AAP shoots back and says the civic bodies were themselves responsible for the financial mess.
Here is a graphic which shows the details of money that civic bodies are demanding and Delhi govt claims it has released.
Day 4 - Jan 30
Workers: Doctors from six hospitals and several dispensaries run by the north and the east municipal corporations join the protest. Strike sends 2,000 consultants, 5,000 resident doctors and 13,000 nurses off service.
Govt: Govt forms a task force to clean up the garbage and asks the municipal corporations to make their accounts public.
Day 5 - Jan 31
Workers: Strike by over 60,000 sanitation workers of the BJP-ruled municipal bodies enters fifth day.
Govt: Delhi ministers, AAP MLAs and hundreds of party workers hit the streets to clear the garbage dumped on several roads across the city. A total of 123 machines (loaders/JCB, trucks/tippers, maintenance vans and so on) along with requisite manpower deployed in the cleaning drive.
Here is a graphic which shows the daily work figures of MCD workers and what the Delhi govt is doing to clear the mess
Day 6 - Feb 1
Workers: The MCD employees continue to boycott work. Representatives of municipal employees’ unions meet Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung, seeks his intervention. They demand an immediate relief of Rs 5,000 crore.
Govt: Govt urges Jung to ensure the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) pays outstanding taxes to three municipal corporations. The DDA, however, says it has no pending service charges/ property tax.
The following graphic shows how the strike has affected nearly 12 lakh poor students as municipal schools remain shut.
Day 7 - Feb 2
Workers: The striking employees continue with their agitation by dumping garbage at major intersections and burning effigies of the Delhi government. Sanitation workers and engineers lead a protest from the municipal corporation headquarters at the Civic Centre to Rajghat with bowls in their hands, begging for money.
Govt: Delhi chief secretary KK Sharma convenes a meeting with the three municipal commissioners and the state finance secretary. The North Delhi Municipal Corporation releases salaries of all the employees for the month of November. The East Delhi Municipal Corporation too starts paying salaries.
Day 8 - Feb 3
Workers: Thousands of sanitation workers hold demonstrations, block major roads including the National Highway 24 that connects the city to Uttar Pradesh. The south corporation’s employees continue with their protests despite a recent order of the corporation, threatening to take action against those who did not turn up at work without a “valid reason”. Schools run by the east and north municipal corporations of Delhi continue to be deserted.
Govt: Kejriwal announces Rs 551-crore loan to civic bodies to pay striking workers. He takes potshots at the Centre and demands CBI inquiry into the “salary scam” in the civic bodies.
Day 9 - Feb 4
Workers: Civic workers’ strike enters its ninth day. Vehicular traffic comes to a standstill in several stretches as agitating employees hit the streets to express their ire. Supreme Court refuses to entertain a plea seeking its intervention in the ongoing stir.
Govt: Sisodia calls for an emergency meeting of officials.