Junior civic staff to go on strike today
Hyderabad: All 18 circles and head office of GHMC would remain shut on Wednesday with 3,500 junior level staff going on strike. These staff are from the revenue, town planning, engineering and sanitation wings.
They were protesting GHMC commissioner Somesh Kumar cancelling the medical leave of valuation officer G. Ashok Kumar’s and ordering his suspension. The officer reportedly passed away later.
More than 540 staffers, including bill collectors and revenue officers are on strike since Monday. In a letter to the Governor, Mr Vinay Kapur, Bhagyanagar GHMC union member, said,
“The commissioner while conducting tax review meeting asked officers to suspend two tax inspectors of the East Zone and threatened them with severe consequences and used unparliamentary language. Subsequently Mr G. Ashok, valuation officer of Circle V, who was ordered to be suspended, passed away on Nov. 9.”
Bill collectors and tax inspectors have to levy property tax on unassessed and under-assessed property.
Staff will stage a dharna at the GHMC head office on Wednesday and a decision will be taken on whether to stop garbage lifting and transportation as well. All agitators want the GHMC commissioner to be transferred, When contacted, Mr Somesh Kumar replied, “All sorted out, no issues.”