Finance minister rejects transport minister; non-payment of salaries to KSRTC employees was not due to strike staged, 30 crore cannot be given every month, says K N Balagopal

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Finance Minister K N Balagopal rejected Transport Minister Antony Raju in connection with the non-payment of salaries to KSRTC employees. The finance minister said non-payment of salaries in KSRTC was not due to the strike of the employees but due to the non-availability of cash in the treasury. The minister said Rs 30 crore cannot be paid to KSRTC every month for payment of salaries. Transport Minister Antony Raju had the other day said KSRTC employees were not paid salaries the last time due to the strike staged.

Meantime, the management said salaries will be paid to KSRTC employees from this evening. The management had taken an overdraft of Rs 50 crore for the salary of April. The KSRTC management had earlier decided to distribute salaries without waiting for government’s help. They had obtained Rs 30 crore from the government. It was decided to distribute salaries from today including this amount. Salaries will be paid to conductors and drivers in the first phase. Payment of salaries starting this evening, is expected to be completed by tomorrow evening.