CITU misleading workers, says JP hydro projects MD

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 18

The JP Hydropower Company, facing prolonged agitation by workers, today said it would not succumb to pressure tactics adopted by CITU as only 200 workers were required to run the power projects during the peak period from May to September.

“If we need, we will mobilise workers from other projects but not come under undue pressure,” said Managing Director Suren Jain.

The JP Hydropower Company, managing the Karchham-Wangtoo and Baspa II projects in tribal Kinnaur district, is in the process of handing over the projects to JSW in the next three months.

Accusing CITU of misleading the workers, Jain said it was exploiting them to derive political mileage and claimed that the company was paying Rs 32 per day more than the wages fixed by the government, other than production link incentives once a year to all employees weather regular or on contract.

“The workers union is affiliated to INTUC and against their demand to raise wages by Rs 150, we increased the monthly wages by Rs 500 from January 1 this year and the reconciliation process was mid-way when CITU entered and hijacked the issue and the workers went on strike, which is illegal,” he said. The project is under Public Utility Service and even the Labour Department has prohibited the strike.