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State talks tough with
Bombay's civic workers

Shiv Kumar in Bombay

After several days of dillydallying, the Maharashtra government has decided to act tough with Bombay's civic workers if they go on strike.

Government sources said Bombay's Municipal Commissioner Karun Srivastava has been authorised to stop payment of salaries to civic workers staying away from their jobs.

The civic workers are demanding huge sums as ex-gratia. The demand was granted by the civic administration last year but was struck down by the Bombay high court.

Should the demand be granted now, each employee would receive outstanding dues between Rs 5,500 and Rs 6,500.

The employees were paid Rs 2,500 in October after the unions and the civic administration came to an agreement.

Employees of the Bombay Municipal Corporation voted overwhelmingly in favour of a strike at a secret ballot conducted to gauge their opinion on the matter.

Union leaders said there was no proposal to go on strike immediately.

The municipal corporation is taking no chances. It has promoted 67 junior engineers to the post of senior engineers, who have reportedly assured that they would keep essential services like water supply going if the strike takes place.

According to civic officials, the municipal administration does not have the money to pay ex-gratia to its employees. The BMC, which had an initial estimated deficit Rs.6.1 billion during the last fiscal year, subsequently brought it down to Rs.3.4 billion after paring down costs and restructuring its budget.

The burden of the ex-gratia demanded by the unions would amount to about Rs 600 million.

Indo-Asian News Service

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