Vans break down, no drivers, waste pickup takes a hit in several Noida sectors

Noida: Multiple sectors in the ciry are facing a disruption in garbage collection services. Affected areas include sectors 112, 36, 12, 122, and 105. While residents complain of irregular, late visits by sanitation workers, workers have cited vehicle breakdowns and driver unavailability. Residents also allege that there is no prior information on the garbage pickup delay, and no response from the public health department officials of the Authority. They added that garbage collection staff in the sectors have no fixed pickup timings and have reportedly been irregular in their duties for the last two months.Dr Tarsem Chandra, RWA president, Sector 12, Property Owners and Residents Welfare Association (PORWA), said there is a heavy pile-up of garbage in the sector that may lead to serious illnesses and outbreaks of diseases. According to Chandra, the civic and sanitation issues in the city are unstable due to frequent unannounced strikes and absences by the sanitation workers. "The already alarming sanitation conditions are further aggravated due to frequent strikes, on which the Noida Authority does not take any effective action. Residents of Sector 12 feel harassed due to a lack of basic hygiene and the threat of disease," said Chandra.Vikas Choudhary, RWA secretary of Sector 112, echoed Chandra's sentiments as he said irregularities in waste collection has forced many residents to store garbage in their homes for 10-15 days, while some are compelled to dump waste in open areas or vacant plots, leading to foul smell, mosquito breeding, and unhygienic conditions.Several residents were informed that waste collection workers were on strike on Thursday, hence no garbage was picked up from their sector. This is reportedly the fourth time this year that the workers have gone on strike.The Authority's did not respond on the issue.

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