Labour union threatens strike if ‘illegal building’ not sealed

MUSSOORIE: The Labour Union (majdoor sangh) of Mussoorie has written to the Mussoorie Dehradun Development Authority and given them a 48-hour ultimatum to stop an “unauthorized” construction near their office in Kulri area of the hill town, alleging that the unauthorized structure will block wind and sun to their office. Failing action, they threatened to go on an indefinite protest.
They said that the construction is not just illegal, but is also being done without proper permission. Wednesday saw a crowd of about 50 members of the union march to MDDA’s office to give them a complaint in writing. The union members said that it was their third effort to hand over the letter to MDDA. Over 500 members comprising rickshaw drivers, coolies and others of the hill town work in the 100-year-old Labour Union’s office.
Speaking to TOI, Gambir Singh Panwar, secretary of the union said, “The land that the building is being built on has been in dispute for several years now. Interestingly, the person who lost the case sold it to one Virendra Jadwan, an employee of the municipal council, who is getting a building made. And if that is not bad enough, there was no permission taken from us to construct the building. It will block our sunlight and air and we can’t let the building come up. We have warned the MDDA to seal the building failing to do which we will have no option but to go on an indefinite strike.”
Devi Godiyal, member of the union, asked, “There is no way that the building plan must have been passed by the MDDA, also what was the municipal council doing for so long?” MDDA officials in Mussoorie were, however, unavailable to take calls after repeated efforts.