Conservancy workers under the National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM), who were removed by the police from outside the Ripon Buildings, said the protest against the privatisation of solid waste management, and for job permanency would continue in the coming days.

The protesters were evicted from the pavements in front of the Ripon Buildings by the police late on Wednesday night. This was after the Madras High Court, on Wednesday, ruled that the workers can protest only in authorised places.

This brought to a halt the 13-day sit-in against the privatisation of solid waste management in Royapuram (V) and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar (VI) zones and for job permanency.

Notably, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) Council had passed a resolution in June 2024, allowing the collection and transportation of solid waste in these zones to be tendered out to private agencies.

The workers were detained at several locations across the city. From around 11 a.m. on Thursday, the workers were released from the places where they were detained. As they came out, many shouted that the protest for their livelihoods will continue. One worker, in tears, said the State government should reconsider its privatisation plans, as this could reduce their income.

Further, K. Bharathi from Uzhaipor Urimai Iyakkam said he would file a writ petition with the Madras High Court, seeking permission to protest inside the Ripon Buildings complex, as demonstrations on pavements, pathways and roads were prohibited. “The agitations against privatisation will continue,” he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Mayor M. Magesh Kumaar said the Madras High Court had reserved judgment on the writ petition filed by the protesters regarding privatisation, and that vacancies in the private firm would remain open until August 31.

On August 10, the GCC said Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited was required to appoint 3,809 sanitation workers, and had appointed 1,770 so far. Of the remaining 2,039 posts, 975 in Zone V and 1,059 in Zone VI were reserved for the protesting NULM workers.

Also, the GCC records, which were shared with The Hindu on August 14, showed that in Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar Zone, 1,147 workers were appointed, with 886 present (77.25%) and 261 absent (22.75%). In Royapuram Zone, of 1,023 staff — 275 permanent day workers, eight permanent night-shift staff, and 740 Ramky day-shift workers — 948 were present (92.67%) and 75 absent (7.33%).

The Chennai Press Club condemned the police for seizing drone and other equipment from newspersons of Theekkathir digital division, when they were covering the protest and detention. In a post on X, the Club urged the police to immediately return the seized equipment and the video files.

After the detainees at Velachery Amma Mandapam boarded buses taking them home, a confrontation occurred between Naam Tamilar Katchi members and police. The party’s vehicle allegedly blocked the buses transporting the workers, police said. Party leader Seeman addressed the detained workers and extended his support.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a demonstration against the detention of protesters night and privatisation of solid waste managemen, near the Rajarathinam stadium on August 13.