Orissa threatens ESMA as garbage piles up
By IANSThursday, February 18, 2010
BHUBANESWAR - The Orissa government Thursday threatened to impose the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) against striking cleaning workers as garbage further piled up in the temple town of Puri.
The government called a meeting to resolve the crisis and warned it would take recourse to ESMA if the municipal workers didn’t fall in line.
“The striking workers are dirtying the whole city. We are trying to resolve the issue though talks. But if the talks fail, we will take steps against them,” said Urban Development Minister Badrinarayan Patra.
The strike began four days ago. The authorities have started cleaning the town with the help of policemen and non-governmental agencies.
“We have started cleaning the grand road. We are also trying to clean up the Puri beach,” said Fakir Satpathy, the district collector of Puri.
About 800 temporary and permanent workers are on strike demanding implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission.
