Bengaluru: As waste transport vehicle owners and contractors are all set to start an indefinite strike against the government demanding the clearance of dues, from June 11 (tomorrow), Deputy Chief Minister (DCM) and Minister for Bengaluru Development Dr.G. Parameshwara called a meeting of BBMP officials on Saturday evening.

He directed the officials to pay the pending amount to the contractors so as to make sure that cleanliness of the city is not affected. The pending dues of street light managers should also be cleared, he directed.

Meanwhile, the DCM called upon Metropolitan Cleanliness and Lorry Owners and Contractors’ Association General Secretary S N Balasubrahmanyan and requested to drop the indefinite strike as he assured that ‘all measures will be taken to pay the pending bills before 3 pm on June 11.’
However, Balasubrahmanyan said, “It is not only the problem of payment. The system of the BBMP should also be changed. So, to discuss all these things we want time,” and requested an appointment.

Balasubrahmanyan said that dialogue has been scheduled with the minister and association members on Monday at 11 am. It is yet to decide about continuing with the strike or calling it back.

BBMP Mayor R. Sampathraj, who was also a part of the meeting, said that they discussed about the precautionary measures to be taken in the monsoon and about the problem of cleanliness. He would also visit Karanala kere and Bellanduru Kere with the DCM on Monday.