Move to privatise conservancy services stirs workers, divides residents

The battle over Greater Chennai Corporation’s efforts to privatize solid waste collection has intensified. “As expected, this led to protests by the trade unions of Chennai Corporation, who came together under the umbrella Federation of Associations against Privatization in Chennai Corporation and staged various agitations. This forced the civic body to postpone the opening of bids, which was scheduled during the last week of October, by a month. Now, it is learnt that the civic body has further postponed the opening of bids to December 7. The conservancy workers, especially those who are working on daily wage and contract basis, are apprehensive that they would lose their jobs once private firms took over the works. ‘If the Corporation privatize conservancy works, many would lose their jobs. The private company would not pay minimum wage to workers,’ alleged P. Srinivasalu, general secretary of Chennai Corporation Redflag Union.”