SHILLONG, AUG 22: The Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) has decided to shift its office to the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) complex at Nongmynsong, Shillong even as it has given “verbal” assurance to continue with the services of all the staff.
This was informed after a meeting held between the Corporation’s Superintendent of Geology Sunfriday Kharlyngdoh with the staff here on Wednesday, after they had decided not to allow shifting of the office furnitures and vehicles to Jharkhand until and unless the management gives a written assurance that their jobs are guaranteed.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, UCIL Additional Superintendent (Geology) Kylleng Pyndengsohiong Mawthabah (KPM) Project, Shillong Dr C Sreedhar Babu said, “The UCIL at present is not shutting down its unit but will only be shifted to the AMD complex.”
He said that if at all the unit has to be closed down such order will have to come from the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) since the UCIL is a public sector undertaking (PSU) under the department (for uranium mining and uranium processing).
“My senior (Kharlyngdoh) who has been deputed by the management has informed that the office will continue,” he said adding “However, they verbally told that the staff will also continue (to work) as usual.”
Asked, Dr Sreedhar however said, “Since the space in the AMD cannot accommodate all these existing furnitures so that is why the management wants to shift the remaining furnitures and vehicles (to Jharkhand).”
However, as per the letter from the AMD informing about the decision to provide office cum residential accommodation for UCIL at AMD complex on August 21, a copy of which is being made available to the corporation’s staff, the UCIL has been clearly instructed to maintain as “minimum officials” as possible.
“As the available space is small, UCIL is requested to maintain as minimum officials as possible,” Dr SN Chaturvedi Head, Planning and Management Services Group in AMD Hyderabad Dr AK Sarangi said in the letter to the UCIL general manager (CP), Jaduguda.
The letter also stated that one number of type – II quarter of AMD residential complex, Shillong can be made available for UCIL officials. Besides, one room office space can also be made available for UCIL.
The UCIL is having a total number of 10 staff appointed on contractual basis. While six are serving in the UCIL office located at Lower New Colony in Laitumkhrah, four others are working in the corporation’s guest house at Wahkaji in South West Khasi Hills District.
Meanwhile, the employees have decided not to allow shifting of the office from Laitumkhrah to the AMD complex due to the apprehension that the UCIL is likely to downsize the number of the existing staff.
“We are not satisfied with this decision because the management is yet to give us any written assurance. With the new office having only one room, we also fear that slowly the corporation may consider removing some of us,” CSR assistant Johnteibor Lyngdoh Sangriang told reporters.
He added, “Therefore, we have decided that we will not allow the management to shift the office from here to Nongmynsong and also the furnitures and vehicle to Jharkhand. We demand the UCIL to give us a written assurance that our jobs are guaranteed.”
According to him, it would difficult for the staff to apply for new jobs if they are removed by the UCIL since most of them are already overage after serving for the corporation for more than 10-15 years.
Asked, Sangriang said, “Even if the UCIL terminate the services of four out of the ten existing staff, they have decided to unitedly stage a protest to demand their rights.”
Meanwhile, he also alleged that the decision to shift the UCIL office from Laitumkhrah to the AMD complex at Nongmynsong was mainly due to “security reasons” following a recent incident.
Earlier, the Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) had also announced to withdraw its research operations in uranium-rich areas of Meghalaya.
This was informed by the AMD regional director Sandeep Hamilton and deputy regional director Dr Rahul Banerjee in a meeting convened by the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC) on August 1.
It may be mentioned here three of its officials were injured and the vehicles they were travelling were also damaged and burnt when they were attacked by a group of miscreants at Wahkaji on July 25.
By Our Reporter
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