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Employees of Southco lock up gates of office

Staff Reporter

Photo: Lingaraj Panda

IN PROTEST MODE: Southco staff raising slogans in front of the office in Berhampur on Tuesday.

BERHAMPUR: Opposing the appointment of the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) the employees of the power distribution company, Southco, locked up the gates of its headquarter in the city on Tuesday.

Reliance Energy, the parent company of Southco removed the former CEO of the power distribution company, V.Gandhibabu, from his post through a fax message on Monday afternoon. In his place Loknath Kanungo was appointed as CEO. But this move by Reliance Energy was opposed by the Southco Coordination Committee. The new CEO could not enter his office due to agitating employees. All official work at the Southco headquarter also remained at standstill due to this agitation.

The working president of the coordination committee, Bhubaneswar Rao said they had decided not to allow Mr Kanungo to join as CEO of Southco as Mr Kanungo was alleged to have had a shady past during his tenure as chief of another power distribution company, Nesco. The employees are demanding continuation of Mr Gandhibabu in his post till his tenure ends in August this year. "The company should not have removed Mr Gandhibabu as he was appointed by appellate tribunal for electricity to continue till his end of tenure," Mr Rao said.

The coordination committee has also sent message to the Reliance Energy headquarters regarding their displeasure over `arbitrary removal and appointment of CEOs'. They demanded that the Reliance Authority discuss with coordination committee of employees regarding appointment of new CEO. They have threatened to continue their agitation till their demands are fulfilled.

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