PANAJI: Goa Government has invoked Essential Services Management Act (ESMA) against the government employees who struck work today.

"We have invoked ESMA and have asked the government employees not to join the strike," transport minister Ramakrishna Dhavalikar told Goa legislative assembly today.

The state's life is partially paralysed after River Navigation department employees manning the inland ferry boat service, state government run Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) employees and industrial estates went on a strike expressing solidarity to the call given by the trade unions.

The issue was raised on the floor of the House by the legislators during the ongoing state legislative assembly session.

The minister said that River Navigation employees are asked to join back work or appropriate action would be taken against them for violating ESMA.

Dhavalikar stated that the KTCL buses were not much affected due to the strike.

The life in the state, however, remains affected as the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) activists blocked Margao-Panaji highway at Verna industrial estate in the morning.

Later the labour union activists blocked the D B Bandodkar road in the capital city of Panaji this afternoon. The traffic jam was witnessed in the city with the activists continuing to block the road.
Source : PTI