Nagar Nigam Kamgar Union members march with torches in Muzaffarpur on Sunday. Picture by Prakash Kumar

Muzaffarpur, July 17: Around 200 civic body employees who went on strike under the banner of Nagar Nigam Kamgar Union returned to work today but the civic amenities remained haywire for the 27th day.

The municipal commissioner, Arun Kumar Singh, confirmed the development of nearly 200 employees returning to duty.

The commissioner had earlier lodged FIR against seven leaders of the union. Its president Ashok Rai was arrested and subsequently sent to jail.

Though 200 civic body employees resumed duty, several of their counterparts took out a procession. They shouted slogans against the district magistrate, Santosh Kumar Mall, and the municipal commissioner and decried the oppressive attitude of the administration to throttle the agitation.

After passing through the main areas of the city, the protesting employees gathered outside the Muzaffarpur Municipal Corporation office.

The employees organised a meeting outside the corporation office and decided to intensify the agitation and continue with it till their six-point demands, including the payment of their salaries according to the Sixth Pay Commission, are not met.

The municipal commissioner said he had initiated the process to clean up the city.

The employees of Nidan, a private agency, have sped up the process of the removal of garbage. Project manager of Nidan Arvind Kumar Singh said the employees have been working 24 hours to clear the civic mess.

“The state government has ruled out the payment of salaries according to the Sixth pay Commission. The financial condition of the civic body is bad and there is no question of conceding to the demands of the employees,” district magistrate Mall said.