COVID-19 Alert: Odisha Govt Bans Agitations In ULB Areas For Six Months

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Monday invoked Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to prohibit strikes by any agency/group of persons dealing with sanitation works in civic bodies and workers connected with supply and distribution of drinking water in urban areas in view of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Outsourced agencies and employees of different government organisations working under the jurisdiction of urban local bodies have been asked to refrain from agitations for six months.

In a notification, the Home Department said that it had come to its notice that almost all ULBs were finding it hard to manage outsourced agencies dealing with sanitation work and the casual workers connected with supply and distribution of drinking water as they frequently resort to strikes on various demands much to the inconvenience of the people.

However, a lot of precaution has to be taken in the ULBS for the supply of drinking water and maintenance of sanitation in view of the COVID-19 outbreak, it said.

“Government of Odisha hereby prohibit strikes by any agency or group of persons dealing with sanitation work in ULBs of the State and by the casual workers connected with supply and distribution of drinking water in the ULBs. This will be applicable to all the ULBs of the State, PHEO, OWSSB and WATCO,” the notification added.