Sangareddy: Mission Bhagiratha workers go on strike, water supply to 76 villages disrupted

26 Mission Bhagiratha operators and linemen go on strike over being denied their salaries for the last 10 months

Sangareddy: Supply of drinking water to 76 villages in Nyalkal, Jharasangam, and Raikode mandals has stopped since November 22, after 26 Mission Bhagiratha operators and linemen went on strike over being denied their salaries for the last 10 months.

The Raghavapur filter bed, from where water is being supplied to these villages, has stopped functioning since then. These operators have worked with Mission Bhagiratha in these villages for eight to 10 years.

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They were being paid Rs 9,500 per month. However, they last got their salaries a year ago. When they launched the protest on November 22, the contractor had promised them to pay the entire pending salaries by December 10. Still, the contractor failed to keep the promise, forcing them to continue the protest.

Several villagers in these mandals are facing acute water shortage. While some officials made alternative arrangements such as supplying water by arranging tanks, residents in other villages were fetching water at their own expense.

Gopal Reddy, a lineman, urged the district administration and State government to intervene in the matter to end their struggles. He said they were ready to resume their work if the contractors paid the pending salaries. Not only these 26 operators, but over 60 operators functioning across the district were not being paid their salaries. Though the rest of them were discharging their duties, they would soon join the protest.

Speaking to ‘Telangana Today’, Bhumi Reddy, a resident of Cheekurthi, said the residents were struggling as there was no water supply in the village for the last 27 days.

He urged the officials to restore the water supply immediately by paying salaries to workers. Meanwhile, Mission Bhagiratha workers have also demanded the government increase their salaries. They also wanted identity cards, PF, ESI and other benefits.