Laboures threaten to leave High Court construction work
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 07 2011:
While inspecting the progress of the developmental works being taken up in different parts of Greater Imphal including the Capital Project at Chingmeirong today, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh was surprised to find many of the labourers engaged in the construction work of the High Court building packing up their belongings to leave alleging denial of their due wages.
Alarmed over the matter, the Chief Minister at once called one of the labourers for talks to find out their problems, and later issued directives to the officials concerned for necessary attention.
He also instructed the officials to ensure early completion of the High Court complex, which is a part of the larger Capital Project, scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh sometime in latter part of the current month.
According to Shankar Vishal, one of the labourers, around 20 of them decided to leave Imphal today as their due wages have not been cleared.
But they were denied gate pass and were not allowed to go out.
Shankar informed that most of the labourers including those who decided to leave today, who are being engaged for construction of the High Court complex, have come from Kolkata.
All of them were hired by one contractor identified as Sarpan Das and brought to Imphal around four months back.
But as payment of their due wages remained pending, they now do not have money for buying even rice and vegetables.
"If we are not going to get wages for the works performed, it is better to go elsewhere and work", he observed.
After inspection of the Capital Project, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh went to Palace Compound to monitor the progress of the construction works at Manipur Film Development Corporation and City Convention Centre.
Talking to mediapersons there, Ibobi informed that talk would be held with Jiribam District Demand Committee soon to dissuade the latter from going ahead with the proposed total bandh along National Highway 53 in view of the difficulties being faced by the people.
The Chief Minister was accompanied by Minister of Works K Ranjit and other officials of PWD during the inspection trip today today, which also covered the Inter-State Bus Terminus being constructed at Khuman Lampak.