Municipal Employees’ Strike Enters Third Day in Phagwara; Garbage Heaps Trigger Public Concern
By Ashok Kaura
PHAGWARA: The indefinite strike launched by employees of the Nagar Nigam Karamchari Union entered its third consecutive day on Wednesday, severely affecting civic services across Phagwara and leading to growing public inconvenience as heaps of garbage were seen scattered in several parts of the city. When The Tribune correspondent visited the dharna site,almost all offices of municipal corporation were found locked.
The strike, being carried out under the banner of the Joint Public Action Front Punjab and the Punjab Nagar Palika Sanitation Employees Federation, continued with a massive protest-cum-dharna outside the Municipal Corporation office in Phagwara where employees gathered in large numbers and raised slogans in support of their long-pending demands. Municipal Corporation offices largely remained non-functional during the day, while sanitation services, sewerage maintenance and other routine civic operations suffered major disruption.
As the strike intensified, garbage accumulation became visible at various prominent and congested locations of the city. Residents expressed concern after heaps of waste were found lying unattended in Bansawala Bazaar and adjoining congested market areas. Similar scenes were witnessed on the road leading towards the religious Gurdwara and Gaushala Bazaar, Old Post Office Road, areas near the Government Primary School and near a religious shrine, causing inconvenience to shopkeepers, commuters and local residents.
The deteriorating sanitation conditions sparked fears of foul smell and possible health hazards if the strike continues for a prolonged period. Local residents appealed to the authorities to find an immediate solution to the ongoing deadlock to prevent further worsening of the civic situation.
Earlier Former Union Minister Som Parkash and Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal visited the protest site and expressed solidarity with the agitating employees. Addressing the gathering, they stated that sanitation and municipal workers play a vital role in maintaining urban infrastructure and ensuring public hygiene. They said the concerns of employees should be addressed through meaningful dialogue and constructive engagement instead of prolonged confrontation.
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Ranjit Singh Khurana today also extended support to the protesting employees and assured them that their legitimate demands deserved serious consideration. He emphasised that civic workers form the backbone of municipal administration and their grievances should be resolved without delay in the larger public interest.
Khurana, while addressing the protesters, said that employees had the democratic right to raise their issues peacefully. He urged the government and municipal authorities to adopt a sympathetic approach and resolve the matter at the earliest to restore normal functioning of civic services.
Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal also joined the dharna and assured employees that their concerns would be conveyed to the appropriate authorities. He acknowledged the contribution of sanitation workers and municipal staff towards maintaining cleanliness and public welfare in the city.
Apart from political leaders, representatives of several labour unions, employee federations and social organisations participated in the protest and extended their support to the agitation. Speakers at the dharna stressed the need for protecting workers’ rights and maintaining regular communication between employee organisations and the administration to avoid prolonged disruption in public services.
Union leaders reiterated that the strike would continue until their demands were addressed satisfactorily. They appealed to employees to maintain unity, discipline and peaceful conduct during the course of the agitation.
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