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Councillors stage a dharna in Jharia on Thursday. Picture by Gautam Dey
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A fresh round of tripartite talks between Mineral Area Development Authority (Mada), district administration officials and striking Mada employees failed to arrive at any solution on Thursday, with around 600 sanitation workers of the civic body deciding to continue with their strike.
The strike, which entered its 26th day on Thursday, has left Jharia, Katras, Nirsa, Putki and Baliapur localities of Dhanbad in a stinking mess with garbage piled up on streets and drains overflowing.
Sources said both Mada officials and the striking employees refused to budge from their stand, leading to a stalemate.
While the striking employees demanded at least two-month’s salary before Chhath, Mada officials could not offer any assurances and said salaries would be paid when they had enough funds.
“How can we end our strike without an assurance of payment?” asked Ganga Balmiki, state secretary of Akhil Bharatiya Safai Mazdoor Sangh.
President of the Sangh Ram Nagina Bansfore added that they did not understand why the meeting was called as Mada had nothing new to offer. Later, four councillors staged a dharna at Deshbandhu Cinema Hall to voice their concern.
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