Bhopal Faces Garbage Crisis on Dhanteras as 15,000 Municipal Workers Continue Strike

November 6, 2026

Bhopal: The sanitation system in Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, has completely collapsed during the Diwali festival. Piles of garbage are visible everywhere in the city on the occasion of Dhanteras. Nearly 15,000 municipal employees are on an indefinite strike, leading to a pile-up of garbage on roads, markets, and residential areas.

On Friday, garbage collection remained disrupted for the second consecutive day in the city. Dustbins were overflowing with garbage, and the streets were littered with filth. People cleaned their homes before Diwali, but the problem of disposing of the waste has arisen.

Residents of several colonies say that municipal garbage trucks have not arrived for nearly a week. As a result, garbage has accumulated outside homes and on the streets. In some areas, people have even started burning it to get rid of it.

Bhopal generates approximately 850 tons of garbage daily, while the amount increases to nearly 1,000 tons during Diwali. Due to the employees’ strike, the Municipal Corporation is unable to collect garbage regularly.

15,000 out of 18,000 employees are on strike

The agitation was initially started by sanitation workers, but has now spread to several other municipal departments. Employees from the water supply, fire service, computer operations, electricity, building permission, gardens, and encroachment removal departments have also joined in.

Of the approximately 18,000 municipal employees, approximately 15,000 are on strike. This includes approximately 14,000 daily wage workers and 1,000 outsourced employees. These employees work in 21 zones and 85 wards of the Municipal Corporation.

On Thursday, protesting employees cut off the power supply to the Municipal Corporation headquarters, Atal Bhawan, and locked the main gate. The employees have also threatened to completely halt the corporation’s operations.

Danger of drinking water supply disruption on Diwali

Amidst the strike, the biggest concern is the city’s drinking water supply. Water Works Department employees have threatened to stop water supply from Friday. There are over 2.30 lakh tap connections in Bhopal. If water supply is affected, millions of people could face difficulties during the festival.

What are the employees’ demands?

The striking employees’ main demands include a minimum monthly honorarium of 25,000 rupees, salary revision, regularization of services, and government employee status.

In addition, the employees are demanding an end to the contract system and compassionate appointments. Municipal Corporation Chairman Kishan Suryavanshi has appealed to the employees to call off the strike during the festival. He said, “Swachhata Mitras are respected across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself washed their feet. An appropriate decision will be taken on their demands after discussion.” Meanwhile, Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ram Prakash Ahirwar stated that discussions between the Additional Chief Secretary of the Urban Administration Department and representatives of employee unions have been positive. However, union leaders have refused to end the strike until a concrete decision is reached. They want to speak directly with Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. The strike has also affected sanitation services in other urban bodies in Madhya Pradesh.