In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, complaints regarding irregular garbage collection have significantly increased as local corporators report that many areas have not seen waste collection for several days. This disruption coincides with a wave of migrant sanitation workers returning to Assam for the April 9 assembly elections, leading to a reported 30% reduction in workforce for the private agencies contracted by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC). Corporators from various wards, including Aashiyana and Gomti Nagar, have noted a rise in complaints, with some areas experiencing up to four days without waste collection. In response, the LMC has initiated action against the agencies, preparing notices to ensure adequate staffing and uninterrupted services. Municipal commissioner Gaurav Kumar emphasized that payments to these agencies are performance-based, and penalties will be enforced for any lapses. Despite these challenges, LMC data shows that the overall volume of waste processed remains steady, averaging around 2,000 metric tonnes daily. However, corporators warn that unless trained replacements are deployed urgently, the sanitation situation may worsen as more workers leave for the elections.