Workers besiege TTD chief’s residence

Tirupati: TTD workers under the banner of CITU on Tuesday besieged the residence of TTD Chairman Chadalawada Krishnamurthy located in Padmavathipuram here to press the TTD management to concede their 14-point demand.

They include minimum wage of Rs 18,000, ESI, PF to all workers, compensation to those who died on duty, fixation of monthly salary to Annamacharya project employees, issuing ID cards and enhancement of salary to forest workers, increasing salary of security guards, regularising of vendors and displaced persons working in TTD vigilance department etc.

The workers including working on outsourcing, contract, empanelled and under societies in various departments took out a rally from Srinivasa Kalyana Mandapam to Padmavathipuram where TTD chairman’s residence was located.

Addressing the gathering, CITU district general secretary K Murali said that the workers were forced to resort to besiege the residence of TTD chairman as he failed to keep his assurance with regard to the demands of TTD workers numbering about 13000.

Krishnamurthy on many occasions had extended support to the demands and even joined a round table conference held by the TTD Contract Employees Union on the demands. His party president and CM Chandrababu Naidu organized a ‘Mahadharna’ before TTD administrative building on the same issue, when he was opposition leader.

Another senior leader Gali Muddu Krishnama Naidu also attacked the previous government for not implementing the demands. Ironically all of them turned a blind eye on the demands after coming to power, he lamented.

A posse of police including women was posted at the chairman’s residence as a precautionary measure.

Two workers in the guise of Lord Venkateswara and poet Annamayya stood before the gate blocking the entry into the house, to hint God and his devotee also came in support of workers.

Meanwhile, CITU district treasurer Balasubramanaim had a dig at the five TTD authorities including two Joint executive officers (JEOs) and three trust board members including Chairman Ch Krsihanmurthy and two members comparing them as `Pancha pandavas’ but let down their own people, that is TTD workers.

Addressing TTD workers protesting before TTD chairman’s residence here on Tuesday, senior CITU leader from the city said those from outside the districts who served as TTD chairman saw people from their districts dumped in TTD by appointing as employees and also took away TTD money sizable, spending them on various works and also conducting programme in their native district.

Responding to the protest, TTD chairman spoke over phone explaining his position with regard to the workers’ demands.

He maintained that despite his efforts he could not put the demands before the board and assured to place before TTD trust board next time for approval upon which the leaders called off the two- hour long protest.