Sanitary inspector dies, colleagues allege workload

According to sources, the deceased, J Dheenadayalan (52) was working as a sanitary inspector attached to Madhavaram Zone. 

“Dheenadayalan came to the office after completing his morning duties on Thursday. At around 9.30 am, he fainted and died due to heart attack,” one of Dheenadayalan’s colleagues said.

The sanitary inspector added that Dheenadayalan was working for nearly 60 days without leave and was under stress. “All the sanitary workers in the civic body is working under lots of stress due to the shortage of sanitary inspectors. Nearly 100 postings of sanitary inspectors are lying vacant. So, we are forced to work extra time,” the SI said. He also added that the sanitary inspectors are asked to report to the duty at 6 am and are forced to work till night. Meanwhile, a higher official said that the issue would be looked into.

Conservancy workers in the city will go on an indefinite strike from November 27 if the forthcoming talks between Greater Chennai Corporation officials and trade unions fail.

“We have issued a strike notice to the Corporation and Labour Department. If the civic body continues with privatising the conservancy workers, many contract workers would lose their jobs. The private companies would also refuse to provide minimum wages to the workers,” P Srinivasalu, general secretary of Corporation Red Flag union, said.

On Thursday, the conservancy workers announced a daylong hunger strike inside the Ripon Buildings.

“As the police and corporation officials promised an appointment with the Corporation Commissioner D Karthikeyan in two days to discuss the issue, we have cancelled the hunger strike. However, the decision of indefinite strike stands and the final decision will be taken according to the outcome of the talks,” Srinivasalu said.

When asked, a higher official said, “we will try to explain the importance of privatisation. As the privatisation is a policy decision of the State government, the civic body could not do anything.”