Source: The Imphal Free Press
Imphal, October 29:
The state government is set to breathe a new life into its sick public sector undertaking, Manipur State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), even as the cease-work strike launched by the corporation employees entered its 18th day today.
Speaking to IFP, transport secretary S Budhachandra Singh said the government has proposed a new project for the welfare of the 300-strong employees as well as the state.
Under the new project, 90 and 67 of the employees will be absorbed in the transport department and home department respectively upon whose salaries, Rs 4,16,950 and Rs 2,77,642 respectively will have to be incurred.
This will relieve the corporation with only 174 employees and having to incur Rs 6,95,704 upon their salaries.
The government incurs an approximate amount of Rs 20 lakh on the employees in all, he said.
On the other hand, salaries of 25 months of the employees are yet to be cleared.
The government is now contemplating release of at least 10 months' salaries, Budhachandra said, appealing to the striking employees to resume their duties.
The project, aimed at revitalizing the corporation, will include eight schemes in it.
They are: transportation of departmental (FCI and agriculture) goods, transportation or furnace oil and low-speed diesel oil for the heavy fuel power project at Leimakhong, long-distance passenger services (eg Imphal-Guwahati), operation of railway passenger reservation system (PRS), revival of the workshops, smoke and gas emission testing of vehicles for pollution control, construction of shopping complex at Dimapur and establishing regional driving training school, according to the secretary.
The project is targeted to generate annual income of Rs 624.46 lakh.
Whereas the cost of expenditure is estimated at Rs 474.72 lakh, it will leave a benefit of Rs 153,24 lakh, he said.
Budhachandra also disclosed that the government has been requested to provide funding to the tune of Rs 90.14 lakh and contribute Rs 372.56 lakh as state guarantee.