NEW DELHI: The common man suffered as sanitation workers took to the streets to demand salary dues on Friday . Sweepers dumped garbage on all the major roads in east Delhi, hindering traffic and filling the air with a stench.While sanitation staff had threatened to stop picking up garbage after March 31 if their salaries weren't paid, Friday's action was unexpected. It also seemed politically motivated as the protesters, who work for the BJP-led municipal corporations, vented their ire mainly on the AAP government "East Corporation has not paid salaries of sanitation workers and we are left with no option but to take to the streets. Garbage was strewn on streets and outside the deputy CM's residence in Patparganj as a mark of protest. Only when people are inconvenienced will our demands be heard," said Rajinder Mewati, president of Safai Karamchari Association. The protesters also burned effigies of CM Arvind Kejriwal and shouted slogans against him.East Corporation has not paid its sweepers since January . Parts of east Delhi, including Preet Vihar, Patparganj, Trilokpuri, Mayur Vihar and adjoining areas, were severely affected. Traffic slowed down to cross the heaps of garbage and some two-wheeler riders skidded.The drama began on Friday morning when about 500 protesters blocked traffic on Vikas Marg. From there, they marched towards Mandawali and blocked the national highway around 10.30am. Although police removed them within an hour, traffic continued to crawl on Patparganj Road, Vikas Marg, IP Extension Road, Mayur Vihar, Anand Vihar, Chaudhary Charan Singh Marg and NH-24 till much later.Sanitation workers laid siege to the corporation's two zonal offices in Shahdara (north and south) and did not let officials enter. Police were called after garbage was piled up outside the offices. The workers said they will contin ue the protest over the weekend if their dues are not cleared. "On Saturday , we will not let trucks and loaders pick up garbage from dhalaos and the collection centre in Vivek Vihar," Mewati said.BJP , which controls all three corporations, said the sweepers have not been paid as the civic bodies don't have money . "We don't have any funds. Not only sanitation workers, even officials have not been paid for months. But dumping garbage on streets is not the solution," said B B Tyagi, chairman of standing committee in East Corporation.Several associations of sanitation workers have said they will strike work from March 31 to demand dues and regular jobs. Workers in north Delhi are also planning a protest. "Garbage will not be removed from the streets. North Corporation hasn't paid us for months," said Ashok Bagdi, president, Akhil Bhartiya Safai Mazdoor Congress.East Corporation recently cleared salary dues up to January and is trying to generate internal revenue to pay sala ries for February and March."We have released around Rs 85 crore to pay the salaries up to January . As soon as we have money , we will clear other dues," said Amit Yadav , commissioner, East Corporation.