The ongoing elections in Assam and West Bengal have begun to impact sanitation services in Lucknow, as a large number of sanitation workers have returned to their native places to cast their votes. Many of these workers, who reside in slum areas across the city, have left along with their families, temporarily halting their duties and creating a sudden manpower shortage.
In response to the reduced workforce, the municipal corporation has been forced to manage operations through double shifts and increased workload on the remaining staff. In several areas, the civic body has also started hiring additional labourers on a daily wage basis, offering between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500 to maintain basic garbage collection services.
The situation is particularly visible in localities such as Indira Nagar, where numerous huts remain locked as families have left for their home states. Residents have reported that garbage collection has abruptly stopped without prior notice, leading to the accumulation of waste in residential areas. Similar complaints have emerged from Aliganj and other parts of the city, where both municipal and private garbage collectors have temporarily suspended services.
Some residents said they were informed directly by sanitation workers about their travel plans. In one instance, a garbage collector reportedly told residents that he was leaving for Assam to vote and would return only after the elections, leaving households to manage waste disposal on their own. Commercial establishments, including hotels, have also been affected, with garbage piling up and no clear timeline for the resumption of regular services.
According to civic officials, the scale of the shortage is significant. While the city’s sanitation system typically relies on around 3,500 workers and 1,430 vehicles, reports suggest that nearly 10,000 workers have left during the election period. This has severely disrupted waste management across multiple zones.
Officials also indicated that earlier verification drives related to Aadhaar documentation had already contributed to a manpower shortage, with some workers leaving or being removed from service. As a result, the system was already operating with a 60 to 70 per cent shortfall even before the election-related departures.
The impact is evident in waste collection figures as well. Lucknow usually generates and processes approximately 2,100 metric tonnes of garbage daily, but this has now dropped considerably, leading to visible deterioration in cleanliness across the city.
Mayor Sushma Kharkwal acknowledged the situation, stating that earlier verification drives had led to the identification and departure of individuals without proper documentation. She added that many of the remaining workers, particularly those from Assam, have now returned home to vote, further aggravating the shortage. She also indicated that the ongoing drives against illegal migrants would continue despite the current challenges.
