The work boycott started on Thursday by 800 employees of Jharkhand Mineral Area Development Authority (JMADA) that disrupted water supply in the area finally came to an end on Friday, after its managing director Dilip Kumar assured the workers of one-month salary payment by evening, and also taking up the matter with the state government for paying five more months of dues.
JMADA employees started the work boycott since the wee hours of Thursday demanding an answer to their 10-point agenda that included pending salaries and promotion, among other things, thereby disrupting water supply from the Jamadoba-based water treatment plant to more than 10 lakh residents of Jharia and Katras.
In the meeting that was attended by employee representatives, Md Aslam and Bishehwar Mahto of Water division, MD Kumar also promised the employees regular salary after the arrival of Rs 8 crore that’s expected to come from Bharat Coking Coal Limited.
Aslam said, “We have withdrawn our agitation as we have been assured that we will be given one month salary immediately, and five more months of salary after arrival of funds from Bazar fee provided by the state government.”
Today’s meeting was held after a tough stand was taken by Dhanbad Deputy Commissioner Uma Shankar Singh on Thursday evening over the disruption of water supply amid the pandemic. He warned of strict action as per the provisions of Disaster Management Act, 2005. He had also instructed the Kumar to coordinate with the employees to end the work boycott and ensure resumption of water supply.
Talking to media, after the meeting, Kumar said, “We had already released the salary of one month on Saturday but the bank is closed so the salary couldn’t be credited in their accounts. It will be credited by this evening.”
Kumar added that he has also assured the employees that he would write to state Urban Development Department requesting to provide their share from the fund of Rs 7.8 crore collected by JMADA on account of Bazar fee, which was deposited with the government.
