The solid waste management machinery in the city is likely to be hit
as garbage contractors have threatened to go on an indefinite strike
from Monday. The contractors rent out transport vehicles to the Bruhat
Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for waste collection and disposal.

The
strike call over a range of issues, which includes non-payment of bills
for the past five months, coincides with the onset of the monsoon and
the Ramzan, when the smooth functioning of the solid waste management
system becomes all the more crucial.

The timing and duration of the strike has already raised fears of more black spots coming up on Bengaluru’s streets.

Balasubramanyam,
a garbage contractor, said though the previous government had promised
them that they would be paid as per revised rates in September 2017, the
BBMP had not honoured the promise. “We will not resume work till our
dues are paid,” he said.

The government is likely to hold a
meeting with the contractors on Monday to resolve the issue. Deputy
Chief Minister G. Parameshwara holds the Bengaluru Development
portfolio.