Bangalore: As pourakarmikas’ strike entered the second day on Thursday, mounds of garbage piled all over the city and the stench emanating from it left citizens a worried lot. The intermittent rains worsened the situation further in several localities. Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy said the pourakarmikas agreed to resume work on Friday, but Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike Officers’ and Employees’ Association members claimed that they did not give any such commitment to anybody and the strike would continue till their demands were met.
The association’s main demand is scrapping of powers of the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) to book cases against Palike engineers. BBMP Opposition leader M K Gunashekar said, “The mayor has failed as a mediator. He could have convinced the government. The BBMP collects tax from public to provide many services, including garbage clearing. But it has failed in its duties.”
He further said, “When the city is stinking, that too when dengue and other diseases are spreading, it is the duty of the government to bring about a solution.” Murthy said he had apprised Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and the Principal Secretary (Urban Development) of the situation. “They have assured to withdraw certain powers given to the BMTF,” he said.
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