Bonded labour in quarries will be freed from work: Collector

Asking the officials to take steps against the quarry owners, who were not paying minimum wages to the labourers, Krishna district Collector Peeyush Kumar on Sunday said that the bonded labourers in quarries would be freed from the work in a phased manner in the district.

Addressing a review meeting with the officials of the office of Regional Labour Commissionerate here, Mr. Peeyush Kumar said that there were 103 quarries in the district, in which thousands of workers were working throughout the year. He asked the officials to conduct special drives to ensure safe working environment and prompt payment of minimum wages to all the labourers.

He asked the officials to take steps that all the quarry owners must maintain muster rolls and other records without fail. Regional Commissioner of Labour Srivastava said that orders would be issued to the officials to conduct periodical inspections and submit reports without fail. Joint Collector B. Ramaiah, Assistant Commissioner of labour P.V. Chetti and other officials were present.

In a separate meeting with the officials of the marketing department and representatives of the ITC group on purchase of subabul, Mr. Peeyush Kumar underscored the need for purchasing subabul from the farmers only at the dumping yards and making arrangements for its transport.

Referring to the purchase of subabul from the farm itself, Mr. Peeyush Kumar said that since the practice was leading to some internal problems in the villages, the purchasers must take up the transactions only at the dumping yard.

He cautioned buyers who were purchasing subabul from the farmers without taking permission from the marketing committee with seizure of transport vehicles. He advised the marketing officials to open special check posts with the help of the police to prevent black marketing of subabul. Joint Director of the Marketing department P. Sudhakar and other officials were present.