No sufficient funds to clear liability worth Rs 300 cr: Govt

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 30: While the Government claimed that it had financial constraints to release pending arrears worth over Rs 300 crore, it has miserably failed to ensure essential (water) supplies in most of the areas of Jammu province during last 16 days.
The people not only in Jammu city, but majority of the public in all 10 districts of Jammu province is badly affected in view of the ongoing strike of the PHE daily wagers, CP workers, land donors and ITI trained workers.
Worst affected is the entire Kandi belt of Jammu region from Khour, Akhnoor, Amb Gharota, Kot Bhalwal to Samba and Kathua including parts of Ghagwal, Hiranagar, Dinga Amb, Billawar and Basohli. The people have been forced to consume unhygienic water from old traditional sources as many water stations have suspended operations.
Reports from Kathua and Samba districts said that majority of the water pumping stations were being operated by the daily wagers. However, since they have gone on strike for the last two weeks, the water supply has been badly hit. Even they are issuing threats to a few permanent staff members not to operate the stations in view of their strike. The ruralites are facing the brunt of this ongoing strike and callous attitude of the State PHE authorities, which failed to take initiate to call off strike and hold dialogue/ negotiations with the striking employees.
Former Sarpanches from Kandi Mangloor, Dinga Amb, Kootah and Sallan area said that PHE authorities should make alternate arrangements of water supply by pressing into service the water tankers in this Kandi belt. They said that strong resentment is brewing among the public against the PHE department as senior officers and the minister concerned, are least bothered about the issue. They said that former Sarpanches of this Kandi belt of Kathua are contemplating to file a PIL in the State High Court as it becomes the responsibility of the Govt to ensure essential supplies to the public.
Similar reports have been received from Rajouri, Kotranka, Kalakote, Darhal, Thannamandi, Mendhar, Nowshera, Pouni, Taryath, Reasi, Mahore , Ramnagar, Majalta, Chenani, Ramkote and Pancheri area besides parts of Doda, Ramban and Kishtwar. The officers concerned in these districts claimed that they had not sufficient number of water tankers to ensure alternate water supply.
Chief Engineer PHE, Jammu Sushil Aima when contacted admitted that there was problem in some areas due to ongojng strike of the daily wage, CP and ITI trained workers. He said about 70 percent staff in the department, running various water supply schemes is temporary. The permanent staff has been pressed into service and they are trying to handle these stations as much as they can do. He said the strike of the ITI trained workers is illegal as they are getting regular wages.
Aima further said that biometric process of nearly 7000 workers has been completed in Jammu region and over 16000 workers have submitted Aadhar cards. This process of biometric will be completed shortly. He said that matter regarding their wages has been taken up with the Commissioner/ Secretary PHE, I&FC Sanjeev Verma and he further took up the matter with the Minister for PHE and the Finance Minister.
When the funds are released, he will be able to release their wages. He said that he himself opened dialogue with striking workers and appealed them to return to the work but they are adamant. They claimed that no worker would resume work till their wages are cleared. The arrears are whopping and Govt is unable to pay this amount in one go.
Responding to another question, the Chief Engineer said that there are about 77 departmental water tankers in Jammu province. Out of them 23 are in Jammu city. 23 private tankers have also been engaged for ensuring supplies in the winter capital.
Nearly 40 private tankers are engaged in other districts of the province besides about 30 tractor trolleys fitted with tankers. Aima claimed that his district heads are trying to cover maximum areas to ensure water supply but the number of tankers is not sufficient in the rural pockets.
Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Choudhary when contacted said that he had tried to break the ice and directed Chief Engineer PHE Aima to initiate dialogue with agitating PHE workers. Aima along with other officers (SEs) held talks few days back with the workers on protest and their representatives. “ We have asked them to give some time but they are adamant to carry on with the strike,” Choudhary said.
He further said that process of biometric was affected with the situation in Kashmir valley for the last about three months now. They should realize it as the things take time. This process could not be initiated in Kashmir. But in Jammu about 80 % work of biometrics has been completed. Referring to regularization, the Minister said there are over 60,000 such workers. The highest number of about 23000 are in PHE. This is an old problem and it will take some time. Huge financial liability is involved.
He said about Rs 112 crore per annum were required to meet their wages regularly and arrears have gone up to nearly Rs 300 crores and the Government is not in position to meet these expenses in view of financial constraints. The priority of the Government is to ensure regular wages to them in future. The Government will try to clear liability slowly in phase.
The Minister further said that the agitating workers must understand the problem and must return to their duty as the public is suffering. When asked if the Govt was planning some harsh steps against them, the Minister said firstly, they will try to hold negotiations and resolve the issue by negotiations. The other will be the last option. He hoped that 15 day old strike will be resolved soon.

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