Civic strike: Cong raises a stink over govt attitude

Ongoing strike has turned into Hyd into a garbage bin

• KCR faulted for failure to take any steps to end the strike
• Narendra Modi, KCR blamed for using Swachh campaigns as publicity tools
• Congress extends support to the striking civic staff

Hyderabad: Leader of Opposition in Telangana Legislative Council Mohammed Ali Shabbir has strongly criticised the TRS Government for not taking any concr­ete measures to end the indefinit­e strike by municipal em­p­loyees, which entered fifth day on Friday.

Addressing a press conference in Assembly premises here on Friday, Shabbir Ali said that the ongoing strike has turned Hyderabad into a garbage bin. “As against the claims of turning new city into Dallas and Old City into Istanbul, the city has become the garbage capital. While nearly 18,000 tonnes of garbage is lying scattered across city streets, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao took no measures to end the strike.

On the other side, taps in many areas have gone dry due to the strike by water supply and sewerage board employees. The complaints of overflowing sewerages have been pouring in from several areas. “Why Governor ESL Narasimhan has not visited the area which he adopted in 'Swachh Hyderabad' campaign? The ruling party leaders, celebrities and others have used the occasion as a photo-opportunity and vanished after media photographers clicked their pictures, he said adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and KCR have used Swachh campaigns as their tools for publicity.

He feared that the accumulated garbage could pose a serious threat to the health and lives of general public. He said there were unconfirmed reports of Dengue cases being reported from Rajendernagar area. "A small drizzle will deteriorate the conditions if the garbage is not lifted on immediate basis," he said. Shabbir Ali said that the Congress party fully supports the demands of about 42,000 municipal employees, including contract employees.