It's TSRTC that owes us says Telangana Govt

Hyderabad: The ongoing TSRTC strike seems to be taking several twists and turns. With the workers continuing the strike and ignoring the offer given by the state government to join duty by midnight of Tuesday, the government has now submitted an affidavit to the High Court saying that it does not owe any money to the Corporation, a day before the High Court would again hear the arguments of both the government and the RTC.

After a detailed review meeting chaired by Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, the government claimed that it is the Corporation that has to pay to the government about Rs 200 crore which it had used from the RTC Workers' Credit Cooperative Society.

In a related development, Transport Authority Secretary Mamata Prasad served notices on the RTC to pay Rs 452.86 crore which it owes to the government as motor vehicle transport tax dues.

Another major action which the government is contemplating is introduction of Compulsory Retirement Scheme (CRS) for all striking TSRTC workers and 100 per cent privatisation of the RTC. However, no final decision has been taken yet.

The GHMC also filed an affidavit saying that the Hyderabad Municipal Corporation does not owe any amount to the Corporation in 2018-19 financial year as claimed by the RTC.

The affidavit said in 2014, the GHMC extended financial assistance to the RTC with the surplus money. From 2016 onwards, the financial status of the Municipal Corporation has weakened and there is no such law mandated to extend financial help to the RTC every year. Currently, the GHMC was not in a position to help the RTC.