Water supply to 76 villages hit as Mission Bhagiratha workers go on strike

22 linemen and operators working at Raghavapur filter bed launch protest over pending salaries in Sangareddy

Sangareddy: Water supply to 76 villages in Nyalkal, Jharasangam and Raikode mandals has been hit with Mission Bhagiratha workers going on strike by stopping operations of the Raghavapur filter bed in Nyalkal mandal.

As many as 22 linemen and operators working at the Raghavapur filter bed were forced to launch the protest for the second time in five months as they were denied their salaries.

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The workers said the management was not paying salaries for nine months. Last November, the workers had gone on strike as their salaries were kept on hold for 10 months in a row. They stopped the operation of the filter bed for a month during November and December. However, Mission Bhagiratha officials and GKR company, the outsourcing agency, persuaded them to get back to work by offering to pay the pending salaries and paid three months’ salaries immediately.

GKR agency had also promised to increase their salaries from the existing Rs 9,500 per month to Rs 12,000 besides providing provident fund and ESI coverage.

However, these promises were yet to be implemented even after four months while the arrears were also not cleared, they alleged, explaining why they were forced to go on strike for the second time in five months.

Speaking to ‘Telangana Today’, Gopal Reddy, an outsourcing employee, said they would not resume the filter bed operation until the officials clear their arrears besides increasing their salaries and keeping all the promises.

Meanwhile, many workers working for Mission Bhagiratha across Sangareddy district are also said to be preparing to launch protests as their salaries were also not paid for several months. These workers have been working with the outsourcing agency for more than 10 years.