Himachal Pradesh News
Shimla Garbage Crisis Deepens: MC Sets Up 229 Collection Points Amid Sanitation Workers’ Strike
The ongoing strike by sanitation workers in Shimla has started impacting daily life across the hill town, prompting the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) to take emergency measures to maintain cleanliness and ensure uninterrupted garbage collection services.
The ongoing strike by sanitation workers in Shimla has started impacting daily life across the hill town, prompting the Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC) to take emergency measures to maintain cleanliness and ensure uninterrupted garbage collection services.
To tackle the growing waste management crisis, the civic body has established 229 temporary garbage collection points across all 34 wards of the city. Residents have been urged to bring household waste to these designated points, where municipal vehicles will remain stationed for collection.
According to officials, the collection vehicles will be available at the identified spots until 10:00 am every day, allowing residents enough time to dispose of their garbage responsibly. The corporation said the move was necessary to prevent piles of waste from accumulating in public areas as the indefinite strike entered a crucial phase.
SMC Joint Commissioner Bhuwan Sharma stated that maintaining sanitation in the state capital remains the administration’s top priority. He assured residents that the corporation is making all possible efforts to minimize inconvenience during the strike period.
Meanwhile, Shimla Mayor Surender Chauhan personally participated in garbage collection activities, signaling the seriousness of the situation. He said additional vehicles would be deployed from Monday to strengthen waste collection operations across the city.
The Mayor also revealed that the corporation is planning to hire more labourers temporarily to manage sanitation work until the dispute is resolved. “There will be no compromise when it comes to maintaining cleanliness in Shimla,” he said.
The strike began on May 15 after hundreds of workers associated with the Shimla Environment Heritage Conservation and Beautification (SHEB) Society opposed the corporation’s decision to remove the annual 10 percent salary increment. The SHEB Society workers are primarily responsible for door-to-door garbage collection and sanitation services in the city.
Before the strike commenced, the district administration attempted to prevent the agitation by invoking provisions under the Himachal Pradesh Essential Service (Maintenance) Act, 1973. Despite the warning, workers continued with the indefinite strike, demanding the restoration of salary benefits and better working conditions.
The disruption in waste collection has already caused inconvenience for residents in several parts of Shimla, with concerns growing over hygiene and public health if the situation continues for a prolonged period.
Adding a political dimension to the issue, the district committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has extended support to the protesting sanitation workers and demanded that the municipal corporation immediately address their demands.
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) has now been scheduled for June 4, where the corporation is expected to discuss the workers’ demands and explore possible solutions to end the ongoing standoff.
With summer tourism increasing footfall in Shimla, the sanitation crisis has become a major concern for both residents and visitors, making a quick resolution critical for the city’s image and public health infrastructure.
