Meghalaya tourism employees threaten indefinite strike

SHILLONG, March 11: The Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation Employees' Union (MTDCEU) on Saturday threatened to go on an indefinite strike from March 26 in support of their demands including payment of arrears, reports agencies. MTDCEU president SD Marbaniang told newsmen here that the union has already served the strike notice to the Corporation's management, as all the democratic means to get their demands were exhausted. He said the demands included payment of arrears and allowance with effect from January 1996 to April 2000 on the recommendation of the Meghalaya Pay Commission, house building advance and regularisation of seven ad hoc employees. Opposing the government's intention of privatising the Corporation, Marbaniang said that it could be a profitable industry, provided the management upgrade the present infrastructure to attract tourists. He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the alleged failure in construction of Crow Borough Hotel, newly constructed but non-starter projects like Cherrapunjee Orchid Rest House, Way Side restaurant at Nokngpoh, closure of Thadlaskei Orchid Hotel, closure of a fast food restaurant at Police Bazar, fire incident that gutted 25 boats at Umiam Lake, etc.