Excelsior Correspondent
UDHAMPUR/JAMMU, May 10: The strike and protest programme launched by PHE daily wagers, ITI trained and CP workers in the entire Jammu region entered 60th consecutive day today.
The agitating PHE workers today held protest at PHE Division Udhampur under the leadership of Tanveer Ahmed, president All J&K ITI Trained and CP Workers Association, Jammu province. A large number of PHE daily wagers/ ITI trained and CP workers from various Sub Divisions also joined them. The protest programme is continued in the office of Chief Engineer PHE at BC Road. Jammu.
The strike of these workers, seeking their regularization and release of pending wages for more than 35 months, today completed two months. The people, especially those residing in rural areas and Kandi belt of Jammu, Samba and Kathua are facing acute shortage of water. The people have been forced to fetch water from the old traditional sources and even from the rivers during these hot summer days.
Most of the water pumping stations / tube wells were being operated by temporary staff of PHE Civil and Mechanical wing while with their strike for the last two months. The department has failed to run these stations and operate motors properly. The people are unable to get water even after 3-4 days as the department does not have sufficient permanent staff. No alternate arrangements of water supply through tankers have been made in these areas.
A large number of temporary workers under the leadership of Tanveer Hussain, Union leader held protest dharna at PHE Divisional office here. They were staging strong protest demonstration against the Government. The workers have suspended entire work in the region. The department is facing difficulty to maintain supply to the public as only permanent staff is performing duty and they are over burdened. The Government has turned mute spectator. It is least bothered to find a way out to ensure water supply during these hot summer days.
Tanveer Hussain and several other trade unionists addressed the gathering and alleged that despite assurances by senior officers their issues have remained un-resolved. Deepak Gupta, Subhash Chander and Manjit Singh also spoke on the occasion.
Similar protest is continued at Jammu, Rajouri, Kathua, Samba, Poonch and other major towns of the region.
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