Farmers lead Kisan Kranti Yatra to Delhi

Around 70,000 farmers from across the country embarked on a yatra to make their demands heard by the central government. The Kisan Kranti Yatra was flagged off on September 23rd and saw farmers raising their voices in several demands, including an increase in minimum support price and loan waiver. They wanted to highlight the general agrarian distress that is prevalent in the country.

The farmers however met with police action, with reports of lathi charge and tear gas at the Delhi-UP border as they neared the capital. There was widespread condemnation of the attempt to muzzle the protests of farmers. The farmers were allowed to march into Delhi after midnight and reach Kisan Ghat. After their passage into Delhi, the farmers ended their march, declaring victory. Though there has been no agreement with the Government, the farmers vowed to continue their struggle to achieve their demands.

Source: ABP | The Times of India | Economic Times

Delhi sanitation workers on strike, city reels under garbage

With the sanitation workers of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) on strike for the 20th consecutive day, in protest against non-payment of dues and pending regularisation of jobs, the suffering of residents has multiplied with mounds of uncollected garbage all around. There are heaps of garbage on the sides of roads in Lazmi Nagar, Preet Vihar and Ghazipur as a result of the strike.

Residents have lodged complaints with the authorities and await action. Angry residents also demand that the politicians who posed with brooms on the anniversary of Swacch Bharat visit their localities now, to check ground reality. To highlight the extent of problems faced by them as a result of the strike and inaction by authorities, the residents started a “selfie with garbage” campaign, posing next to the accumulated garbage to bring their plight to the attention of the authorities.

Source: DNA | India Today | The Quint

Coastal road construction gets approval from BMC

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) approved the first phase of the construction of a coastal road connecting the stretch between Princess Street Flyover and Bandra-Worli Sea Link. The first stretch to be constructed will extend to 9.98 Kms and is estimated to cost Rs 12,000 crores. The first phase will include tunnels running under Chowpatty and Malabar Hill. The purpose of the tunnel is to allow for the smooth flow of traffic on the coastal road.

The BMC has also finalised plans for a safety room, escape routes in case of emergency and better ventilation in the underground tunnels that will be at 20 metres under Malabar Hill and 70 metres under Chowpatty. Fire protection systems, insulation and earthquake resistant materials will be used in the construction of the tunnels that will run parallel to each other. Seven cross tunnels will be used by vehicles and six will be used by people for navigation between the two main tunnels.

Source: The Times of India | Hindustan Times

Chandigarh resumes door to door garbage collection

Three weeks after disagreements between private waste collectors and the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation, the private collectors have resumed door to door collection much to the relief of the residents. The private players protested the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation’s move to take over garbage collection by suspending operations.

The agreement reached between the warring parties included the continuation of door to door collection for three months until a new system is put in place. The key bone of contention were the jobs on offer to waste collectors since the municipal corporation took over the system. The civic body guaranteed jobs only to 1447 of the estimated 5000 people who are currently employed by the private waste collectors. The stand-off resulted in the accumulation of garbage across the city, irking many residents and posing health hazards.

Source : Indian Express  | The Times of India | Hindustan Times

[Compiled by Aruna Natarajan]