The closed PMC office after the employees called a strike on Thursday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 10: Their demand was the same — outstanding salaries. But their banners and quantum of agitation were different.

Around 3,500 employees of Patna Municipal Corporation and Water Board went on strike today. Majority of them took the agitation path under the banner of Indian National Trade Union Congress (Intuc) for two days. The rest went on an indefinite strike under Patna Nagar Nigam Staff Union (PNNSU) and Water Board Employees’ Union (WBEU).

The Intuc, which claims to represent about 2,900 employees of the corporation, called off its strike after senior urban development officials promised salaries within next two days.

Employees attached with the PNNSU and WBEU, however, decided to continue with their agitation. “Only promises will not do,” said a leader of PNNSU. “We will resume work only after we get salaries,” he added.

Earlier in the day, the strike hit official work in the corporation. Offices remained locked. Sanitation work and water supply were partially thrown out of gear, said sources.

Mayor Afzal Imam blamed former PMC commissioner Manish Kumar for the standoff. “Had he ordered for the clearance of the payment in December last year, this situation could have been avoided. He instead removed the head of the accounts department, stalling all work,” he said.

Imam said talks were on with senior officials in the urban development department to resolve the crisis. He said sanitation work was not affected much because of the strikes as workers of A2Z, the company given the contract for cleaning major stretches of the city, were responsible for cleaning the streets and collecting garbage.

The situation, said sources, aggravated after newly appointed municipal commissioner Divesh Sehra was sent to Bengal on deputation for election duty.