Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 7: With the strike of State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) workers for the last five days, the ration supply to various areas in the State and the passengers of inter-state and others routes have been affected.
Out of the fleet of nearly 1200 vehicles of the SRTC, nearly 700 are buses while about 400 trucks plying on various routes. Some of the vehicles are parked in yards being out of order. About 300 trucks have been deployed on the Food & Supplies (CAPD) duty, while nearly 120 buses are plying on the inter-state routes. Nearly, 170 trucks have been deployed for carrying essential commodities (ration) in ten districts of Jammu region including Jammu city.
As the SRTC trucks are off the road, the supplies to Jammu city and other districts besides areas like Kargil and Leh have also been affected. The passengers of Jammu-Pathankote, Jallandhar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Shimla, Chandigarh, Haridwar and Srinagar-Kargil- Leh and Jammu-Katra route have also been affected. They have to remain dependant on the buses of other states like Punjab and Haryana, private vehicles and the trains.
The workers of the SRTC are on strike for the last five days. They are opposing shifting of its headquarters from Maulana Azad Road near TRC, Srinagar to Nowgam, on the outskirts of the city. They alleged that 20 kanal of prime land of the SRTC was forcibly got vacated using police force by Administration despite the fact that case was pending in the State High Court.
A large number of SRTC workers including drivers and conductors held protest demonstration near TRC at Srinagar on M A Road and in Jammu at General Manager’s office near Bikram Chowk. They lodged their strong protest against forceful eviction of Corporation workers from the fifty year old SRTC headquarters. In Jammu the workers under the leadership of Ashok Mehra president and Param Jit Singh, general secretary assembled at Bikram Chowk office of the SRTC and held massive protest demonstration. They shouted slogans against the Government. It was followed by day long dharna. In srinagar, Shakeel Ahmed Kuchey, Chairman of the Union was leading.
Meanwhile, Managing Director of SRTC, J S Tandon said that talks were held with the Union members yesterday and the Government has agreed to provide sufficient space to the SRTC at old office near TRC, Srinagar for boarding and de-boarding of passengers and booking office. He hoped that Union members will call off their strike by tomorrow.
Responding to another question, the MD said that SRTC has signed annual contract with the CAPD for carriage of food grains. “We have arranged private trucks through some tractors to ensure essential supplies to various areas including Kargil-Leh and some more vehicles were pressed into service yesterday. We are aware of our social responsibility and are trying our best to ensure adequate supplies to the rural areas as well,” Mr Tandon maintained.
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