Govt assures to resolve NLC impasse in one week

Chennai, Apr 3 (UNI) Assuring to resolve their demands in one week, the Tamil Nadu Government today appealed to the 13,000-odd striking contract labourers at the Public Sector Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) to withdraw the stir and return to duty.

Replying to the demand for grants for Energy Department, in the State Assembly, Electricity Minister Arcot N Veerasamy said he had spoken to Union Minister Dasari Narayana Rao who had promised to resolve the issue in a week.

He said the Union Minister would visit the city and hold talks with the representatives and find a permanent solution to their demands.

Mr Veerasamy said he would also be present at the meeting on behalf of the government and ensure a permanent solution was arrived at.

He appealed to the striking workers to take the assurance and withdraw the agitation.

The contract labourers were on indefinite fast for the last few days demanding regularisation of jobs as per Madras High Court directive and 8.33 per cent bonus.

Earlier, speaking on the demand for grants, Ms Padmavathy (CPI) sought Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's intervention into the issue and appealed to him to convince the NLC Management to hold talks with the agitating workers.

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