Lokesh demands 25 lakh ex-gratia to deceased workers

Rajamahendravaram: TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh has demanded that the State government pay an ex-gratia of Rs 25 lakh each to the 38 building construction workers who died due to lack of work.

Speaking to the media at the rural MLA Gorantla Buchaiah Choudary's house here on Tuesday, he also demanded an amount of Rs 50,000 each to workers starving since five months due to sand shortage. He said it was the first time that state is witnessing sand scarcity. The cost of lorry load sand is Rs 40,000 now as against Rs 10,000 during TDP rule.

He demanded that the government introduce free sand policy. Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy had failed in sand supply and not responding even after death of 38 workers, he alleged.

TDP will fight against government until it combats sand problem, he said. TDP state president Kala Venkat Rao, Legislative Council deputy chairman R Subramanyam and MLA Adireddy Bhavani were present.