Local

At a time when the union government promises to ensure guaranteed universal water supply and electricity for the citizen, Steel Authority of India, however, has a different action plan in reserve that was exposed on Thursday when the PSU took the bid to deny the basic amenities to dozens of it's former employees with an intention to evacuate them. 

 

SAIL's Durgapur Steel Plant and Alloy Steel Plant authorities recently issued a circular asking its former employees to vacate the residential quaters. The circular ignited out and out protest by and large among the former employees as it's intimidated to cut water supply and withdraw power from the quarters occupied by the ex employees. 

 

The retired and separated steel workers broke out in protest on Thursday and staged a strong demonstration in front of DSP's Town Administrative building for several hours. They brought charges of deprivation against the SAIL unit here. They said: "The SAIL extracted the golden years of our life when we toiled harder to melt steel and secure the company’s dazzling success. But, now, when we've grown old, the same company has gone insane, inhumane, and cruel to the elderly citizen like us and has fallen after our blood today by issuing such an uncivilised, undemocratic circular." They added: "How they could dare to think of snatching drinking water from it's own former employees!"

 

There are about ten thousand  residential quaters across the Township. Most of them, after a phasing out of the plant's working strength, are currently occupied by the retired workers. The retired workers complained: "The Centre wants to monetise everything. They want to drive out the scrapped herd and earn booty from the ashes ruthlessly looting the bare minimum shelter from us. They have stopped renewing our license agreements." They further added: "The authorities are deliberately cutting power and water supply lines as part of their heartless strategy compelling us to quit."

 

The SAIL units had collected security deposits from the scrapped workers against the issuance of license agreements allowing them to stay within the Steel Township for the rest of their life. 

 

But, now, as it seems, the Centre has got dome otherwise plan to further monetise the fragile age-old structures after hounding out its age-old former employees.

 

The aggrieved retired steel plant workers threatened: "If the Durgapur Steel Plant authorities dont take any favourable decision on the matter, then we will choose to go for larger successive movements."  

 

About 5000 retired workers of DSP & ASP joined with their family members to form a human chain during todays protest movement.

 

Rajiv Ghosh, president of Durgapur - 1 Block Trinamool congress came to express solidarity to the movement.  He said: "They are now retired workers, but once these workers had strengthened the foundation of steel production here. If they are evicted, we will mobilise a larger movement here."

He also suggested to the retired workers of Durgapur Steel plant and Alloys Steels plant to report the matter to the local MP Kirti Azad seeking further action against the Durgapur Steel plant and Alloys Steels Plant and raise the issue in the Parliament.

 

In response, Asansol organizational district BJP leader Amitabh Banerjee said, "The DSP authorities have issued notices several times for license renewal. But, the retired workers did not respond on time." In addition, he said: "Many active workers of Trinamool congress has occupied many quarters, housing units. We demand the DSP authorities to first make arrangements to vacate them at once and then look for the retired employees."

 

TMC Block president Rajiv Ghosh, meanwhile alleged : "This BJP leader Amitabh Banerjee himself has occupied a large piece of high value state government land for car parking in City Centre besides the Red Cross road, which worth several Crores of rupees. Its ridiculous to hear about encroachment, unauthorised occupancy from a person like him." 

 

The SAIL units, meanwhile have remained tight lipped after Thursday's protest by the retired workers.