Striking unions seek Governor's intervention in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The TSRTC strike entered sixth day on Thursday with workers taking up rallies and protest programmes in the districts. The TSRTC JAC-1 called on Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and sought her intervention in the issue. The JAC-1 leader K Hanumanthu urged Governor to issue orders to settle the grievances of RTC workers and to stop the irregular actions of government and management in the interest of travelling public and protect TSRTC employees and its properties. The RTC JAC leaders alleged that two drivers died on Thursday after shock of dismissal by the government.

Even as the government warned the conductors not to charge extra and also to accept bus passes, the hire buses owners fleeced the passengers by charging exorbitantly. The passengers criticised the government for giving free hand to the private buses during the strike.

There were reports of rash driving by the inexperienced drivers of the buses resulting in accidents at various places in the city. A police vehicle and another car were damaged after an RTC bus driven by temporary driver hit those vehicles in Medchal district on Thursday. Similarly, a driver of a hire bus of Yadagirigutta dashed a car at Chaderghat. The police had to intervene to stop both the RTC and car driver from fighting.

Meanwhile, the government used the services of Singareni workers in the RTC depots. Some of the Singareni workers were deputed to the Mancherial depot. The Singareni management asked four employees in Srirampur including A Rajamallu (electrician), A Rajkumar (general Mazdoor), B Anil Kumar and P Vinod (both motor mechanics). The employees have been asked to report to Mancherial depot manager immediately. Khammam District Collector RV Karnan issued orders to utilise the drivers of irrigation, roads and buildings, cooperative, labour departments in TSRTC.