Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Sept 2: Jammu city and all the major towns of the region are facing acute water crisis for the last two days as the PHE workers have gone on strike while the talks of the Union leaders of the employees and top PHE officials including Commissioner/ Secretary PHE, I&FC and Chief Engineer ended in deadlock late this evening.
After completion of two days’ strike this evening, the PHE Workers Welfare Association announced its decision to extend strike for next three days, dragging general public to massive water crisis. Not only daily rated, casual, consolidated of CP workers are on strike, even the regular employees of the department including PHE Driver/Cleaners Union of Jammu province has also gone on strike in their support. The water supply through tankers has also been suspended.
In entire old Jammu city including Pacca Danga, Jullaka Mohalla, Pir Mitha, Panjtirthi, Purani Mandi, Residency Road, Exchange Road, Ustad Mohalla and Jammu West localities including Janipur, New Plot, Sarwal, Rehari, Bakshinagar, Talab Tilloo etc the people were witnessed roaming here and there for getting a bucket of water to drink and cook food. Many were seen fetching water in containers/ pots in their own private vehicles and two wheelers from different sources including Ranbir Canal, `Bhowlis’, hand pumps, tube wells etc.
It has been reported that the consolidated/ CP workers are not allowing even some of the permanent staff members to work on water supply. In Kathua area about seven panels of the machinery at pumping station have been damaged. In Jammu a water tanker carrying water supply to Raj Bhawan side was attacked by the workers. Some of the workers said to have caused damage to the panels of machinery at pumping station and even damaged valves.
In City’s posh areas including Gandhi Nagar, Trikuta Nagar, Channi Himmat etc. the people are facing water crisis. The people are forced to hire the services of private tankers who too, have doubled their rates. The city hotels, restaurants, hospitals and hostels are also faced with severe crisis. The taps have also gone dry at Railway Stations and Bus Stands at various places.
Reports from Akhnoor, Samba, Kathua, Vijaypur, Bari Brahamana, Udhampur, Nowshera, Rajouri and Sunderbani, Reasi and other parts said that similar problems is being faced by the public while Government has failed to make alternative arrangements. The public anger is now going sky high against the striking PHE workers and they maintained that Government can not remain mute spectator. It is its prime responsibility to ensure essential supplies.
The PHE workers led by senior leaders of the Association/ Union including Subash Verma, Rattan Doshi, Vijay Singh, Manzoor Ali, Tilak Raj, Swarn Singh, Sanjay Bali and others held strong protest rally at PHE Complex BC Road here today. They were raising slogans in support of their demands. They demanded that all the daily rated, consolidated, casual and CP workers be regularized without any delay and their pending wages be cleared.
The workers also visited many pumping stations/ tube wells and did not allow even other regular employees to work. Many unions of the department already have extended support of the cause.
Meanwhile, the talks of the PHE Association/ Union leaders with the Commissioner /Secretary PHE, I&FC Pawan Kotwal, Chief Engineer PHE Jammu Sushil Aima and other senior officers from PHE/ Mech wings of the department failed to reach logical conclusion. The Union leaders claimed that top officials were pressing them to call off strike on just assurance but the workers are not prepared for it.
“We demanded that some written agreement or assurance from Minister or Commissioner/ Secretary should come so that workers could be satisfied but they are not prepared for it. Therefore the talks remained inconclusive and the Association has decided to go for 72 -hour strike,” Subash Verma general secretary of the Association said.
Pawan Kotwal when contacted said that he had reached Jammu from Srinagar only to hold talks with the striking employees and resolve the issue. He said the purpose of the strike was to draw attention of the Government towards the issue and they have succeeded in it. He said nearly 16,000 Casual/ Need based workers are there in PHE in Jammu division and nearly 7000 in Kashmir. The lists have already been prepared and cabinet sub committee headed by Finance Minister is finally looking into the matter. The case is in final stage and after cabinet nod they will be regularised. The Government was already working on it and even the Chief Minister had also declared it in the Assembly few days back. Keeping in view the miseries of the public, the Union leaders and employees must realize the gravity of the situation and call off strike.
“Govt can not deny essential services to the public and under such circumstances the Government should not be forced to take some stringent action. The Divisional Commissioner and IGP Jammu besides Minister concerned are also keeping close eye on the situation. We have appealed the employees to resume work and not allow the public to suffer as Government was seriously pursuing their issue,” Mr Kotwal maintained.
A senior PHE officer without being quoted told the Excelsior that Government was contemplating to evoke ESMO and go for crack down on the Union leaders as the situation is deteriorating.
Chief Engineer PHE, Mr Aima said that talks with employees leaders ended in deadlock. They are adamant to proceed on 72 hour strike. “We have engaged JEs, AEs, AEEs and even the Executive Engineers to operate systems and ensure water supply to the public. We have taken up the issue with IGP Jammu for seeking police protection as at several places, the employees were attacked by agitating workers. He said in City South area including Gandhi Nagar and Channi Himmat about 50 % area was covered this evening. Supply system to Old city and parts of Jammu West has been damaged by some workers and senior staff is busy in restoration work. But tomorrow morning supply to some more areas will be restored.
Mr Aima has appealed all the PHE employees including striking daily rated, casual, CP and consolidated workers to report their respective places for duty by 8 am tomorrow, failing which the Government may take some serious view. He also appealed the general public to make judicious use of water till the crisis is over.
Meanwhile, All J&K PHE Daily Wagers, ITI, CP Workers Casual Labour and Need Base Association led by Tanveer Hussain has fully supported the strike. They urged upon the Chief Minister and PHE Minister to resolve the issue at the earliest.
Water Works (PHE) Employees Association Udhampur led by Som Nath has urged upon the Government to intervene immediately and address the issues of daily rated, consolidated, casual and need base PHE workers. PHE Department Driver/ Cleaners Union has also accorded full support to the striking PHE employees.
NPP leader and MLA Udhampur, Balwant Singh Mankotia has urged upon the Government to resolve the issues of the temporary PHE workers without any delay. He extended support to workers’ cause.
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