Tension at GHMC office as sanitation workers protest privatisation

Nearly 200 GHMC sanitation workers and Swachh Auto Tipper drivers protested at the civic body's head office against the proposed privatisation of garbage collection. The workers demanded job security and government intervention, with tension escalating during a confrontation with police

Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) head office on Tank Bund as hundreds of sanitation workers gathered to protest the proposed privatisation of garbage collection, demanding job security and immediate government intervention.

This was the third consecutive protest by GHMC Swachh Auto Tipper (SAT) drivers and sanitation workers in the past month, with the workers opposing the proposed privatisation plans.

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During the ongoing Assembly session, nearly 200 sanitation workers entered the GHMC head office and staged a protest. The demonstrators expressed frustration, alleging that despite assurances from Hyderabad in-charge Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, GHMC authorities were moving ahead with plans to award garbage collection contracts to private companies.

The situation turned chaotic when a heated argument broke out between the police and the protesters. As police personnel attempted to disperse the crowd, several sanitation workers fell during the ensuing commotion, further escalating tension at the scene.