Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 11: The water crisis has affected many parts of Jammu city and other areas in the region as the PHE workers’ strike/ `Kam Chhor Hartal’ today entered 5th consecutive day.
The PHE workers are on strike under the banner of PHE Employees United Front, Jammu province since February 7. They are sitting on protest dharna in the office of Chief Engineer, PHE BC Road complex besides other district and Sub Divisional headquarters. They are demanding release of their pending wages, regularization, conduct of DPC of all cadre, filling up of vacant posts, repair/ maintenance of pumping houses/ water stations and basic facilities at water stations for the staff.
While addressing protesting workers senior members of the Front said that work remained totally paralysed in all the PHE Divisions like PHE City-I, North, South, Rural Jammu, PHE Div Kathua, Samba, Akhnoor, Udhampur, Rajouri, Nowshera, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Reasi, Dharmari Ground Water Drilling Division, Procurement etc.
They alleged that concerned higher authorities have not responded properly to their demands and they have been forced to extend their strike. Therefore, they decided to continue their agitation till the honourable negotiation and settlement of all the issues. The leadership now resolved to exted the strike up to Thursday. They also regretted the inconvenience being caused to the general public due to suspension of water supply.
Prominent employees leaders/ trade unionists who addressed the agitating employees included – Bakshi Singh, Ravi Kumar, Bhanu Partap Singh, Swarn Singh, Som Nath, Hoshiar Singh, Deepak Gupta, Mitual Sharma and VK Manhas.
Meanwhile, due to ongoing strike of the employees, the water supply has been badly effected in many parts of Jammu city and rural areas of the region. The general public has been badly suffering due to suspension of water supply. The PHE Department tankers have also failed to ensure supplies in all the areas. No initiative has been taken at the top level to resolve the issue.
Chief Engineer PHE Jammu, Dr Sanjeev Chadha has appealed to the general public of Jammu city and other areas of the region to use water judiciously in view of the strike of the PHE daily wagers. He claimed that the issue will be resolved shortly.
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