COIMBATORE: More than 200 contract workers boycotted work at Semmozhi Park in Gandhipuram here on Tuesday and staged a sit-in protest, demanding immediate disbursal of their pending salary.The workers, employed through an agency responsible for operation and maintenance of the park, alleged that they had not received their last month’s salary. They said the delay had caused financial hardships to several employees who travel from different parts of the district to work in the park.Sanitation workers, gardeners, security guards and other maintenance staffers participated in the protest. The workers, dressed in their uniforms, gathered on the park premises and raised slogans demanding that the authorities intervene and ensure payment of their salary.Personnel from Kattoor police station and corporation officials reached the spot and held talks with the protesting workers. After assurance from officials, the protest was called off.Corporation commissioner Katta Ravi Teja said the delay in disbursing salaries was linked to the termination of the operation and maintenance contract by the state govt. The contract was among several agreements reviewed and terminated over alleged lapses, following which funding to the agency had reportedly been stopped for the past two months.The commissioner said, “Since these were awarded in a rush during the election, we want to streamline them. We have prepared a new tender proposal which is expected to receive the administrative sanction after which a new tender will be called for operations and maintenance. Until the new contractor takes over, the existing company will carry out the work as usual. They will be paid for their work.”
