Telangana: Coal workers end strike, schools reopened

Hyderabad, Oct 18: The coal production resumed in the state government owned Singareni coal mines in Telangana region on Tuesday (Today) after unions decided to 'temporarily' call off their month long strike while schools and colleges that were closed in support of a separate Telangana reopened in Andhra Pradesh.

The move has come after the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) convenor M. Kodandaram announced on Tuesday (Today) an end to the strike after series of discussion to the management of the company on behalf of the unions.

Meanwhile, Coal workers in 50 mines from four districts of Telangana returned to work after unions decided call off the strike.The management agreed to consider the strike period as special leave, pay festival advance and promised to take back cases registered against the strikers.

The reopened of Singareni coal mines after a month has come as a biggest relief to six states including Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka which were fighting under electricity shortage. More than 70,000 Singareni employees were on strike since Sep 13 led to shortage of coal in several states. Singareni suffered a loss of Rs.600 crore due to the strike. It lost another Rs.120 crore towards payment of wages to the employees during the strike period.

The government and private educational institutions also reopened in Telangana after more than a month. About 150,000 government teachers call off the strike after talks with Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Monday, Oct 17 night. The government agreed to all their demands except formation of Telangana state saying the issue does not come under its purview.

Meanwhile, only government employees in Telangana are continuing the strike for separate Telangana state. The government is optimistic of an early breakthrough in the talks with the employee's unions.

OneIndia News