* Dharna at CE’s office will continue: EUF
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 27: Jal Shakti/ PHE Department workers today deferred their ‘Kam Chhorh Hartaal’ after assurance by the Minister Incharge Jal Shakti, Forest and Tribal Affairs Departments.
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A spokesman of the PHE United Front today told the Excelsior that ‘Kam Chhorh Hartaal’ of the PHE workers was today suspended after a detailed meeting with the Minister Incharge PHE/ Jal Shakti, Javed Rana at his official residence at 9.30 am here today, in the presence of OSD with Minister, Chief Engineer PHE Jammu, Vikas Sharma, three Superintending Engineers -Bodh Raj, Sumit Gandotra and Mohd Taj.
The five member committee of the Employees’ United Front included- Rajinder Singh Taj, Ravi Hans, Hoshiar Singh, Mohan Lal and Navdeep Singh held talks on behalf of the employees.
United Front members Ravi Hans and Rajinder Singh Taj said that meeting was held in very congenial atmosphere. During the meeting the Minister assured that wages of the PHE workers will be enhanced on the pattern of the UT of Ladakh and their pending wages amounting to nearly Rs 400 crores will also be released in phased manner. With regard to their regularization, the Minister said that a high level committee under Chief Secretary has been constituted by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah. The employees’ representatives must start dialogue with them.
They said that in view of the coming Eid and Navratra Festivals, the Employees United Front decided to defer their strike at least for two weeks. If the Government backed out, the work will be suspended again. However, protest dharna of the workers at the PHE Complex, B C Road will be continued till a policy is framed. The employees have already given slogan-” No Policy, No Ghar Wapsi”, they claimed.
Meanwhile, Chief Engineer PHE Jammu Vikas Sharma said that after meeting with the Minister Incharge Jal Shakti, Forest and tribal Affairs Javed Rana this morning, the PHE workers called off their Kam Chhorh Hartaal. He said that the workers have resumed their water supply operations, providing relief to the public after five days. He said that their demands of wage enhancement and release of pending wages have been principally accepted by the Government. They are demanding wages at par with the daily rated workers of the UT of Ladakh. Their pending wages are nearly Rs 400 crores which the Minister told that this amount will be cleared in the phased manner.
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