Panchayat staff strike leaves temple town stinking

Kotugudem: The strike by the panchayat staff has caused a complete breakdown of sanitation services in the temple town Bhadrachalam. Roads and streets are reeking of garbage that had accumulated over a week as the strike entered the eighth day on Tuesday. 

The residents are worried as the garbage spilling on the streets is mingling with stagnant rainwater causing health hazards in localities. The presence of garbage and debris in the locality has also paved way for stray animals to come and inhabit this side of the ground. They can be often seen feeding on the disposed garbage and thus end up scattering the same at different locations. 

Meanwhile, the panchayat employees demanding better payment and regularisation of their jobs, have intensified their agitation. Workers of as many as 205 panchayats are participating in the strike. The political parties are also supporting the strike. CPM, CPI, Congress and TDP have also expressed their solidarity with the panchayat staff.  

Not only sanitation of roads, the street lights have also been switched on ever since the strike started eight days ago. People and devotees are afraid to come out of their homes fearing crime taking place in the dark of the night.

Since a lot of devotees visit the temple town every day, they are facing several problems due to garbage strewn on roads. As they alight from the vehicle the foul smell emanating from garbage piled up on streets welcome them. Even they face problem in walking on roads.

On the other hand, the district administration is least bother about the misery of residents and devotees. They are not willing to make alternate arrangement at least to keep the temple town clean since it is called Ayodhya of South India.