Raipur’s sanitation system plunged into crisis on Wednesday after sanitation contractors launched an indefinite strike, alleging that payments due to them have remained unpaid for the past four months. As a result, cleaning operations have come to a halt across all 70 wards under the Raipur Municipal Corporation, raising concerns about the city’s waste management and public hygiene. The contractors said that sanitation work across the municipal area is carried out through a system under which approximately Rs 4 crore is paid collectively every month for all wards. However, they alleged that no payment has been released for the last four months despite repeated requests and assurances from the authorities. According to the contractors, they are also responsible for paying sanitation workers and meeting operational expenses. With payments remaining pending for several months, they claimed it has become increasingly difficult to continue providing services.

 

They asserted that the strike would continue until the outstanding dues are cleared. The striking contractors stated that they had submitted a memorandum to the Municipal Corporation administration last week seeking the release of the pending amount. However, they alleged that no concrete action or response has been received so far. The contractors also submitted a memorandum to Leader of Opposition in the Municipal Corporation, Akash Tiwari, seeking support for their demands. The strike is expected to have a significant impact on the city’s sanitation arrangements. The situation has become more concerning as sanitation workers associated with Ramky company had also recently suspended work over their own set of demands. With both sanitation workers and contractors resorting to protests, residents may face growing difficulties if waste collection and cleaning services remain disrupted for an extended period. Municipal Corporation authorities are yet to announce any resolution to the payment dispute.