Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 8: On second day of their 72-hour strike, the PHE workers held demonstrations and took out massive protest rallies in support of their pending demands in Jammu city and at various other Divisional and Sub Divisional headquarters across the region today.
In Jammu, the PHE daily wagers including CP workers, ITI trained and need based workers suspended their operation at various pumping and other water supply stations. They also held brief protests at various Divisional headquarters and shouted slogans in support of their demands.
The protesting workers were demanding release of their pending wages and their regularization with out any delay. They claimed that their association has decided to observe 72-hour strike and they will paralyse the supply as the higher officials except false assurances have done nothing to mitigate their sufferings.
The protesting PHE workers criticized the higher authorities for not resolving the issues of the PHE daily wagers/ CP workers. They alleged that many workers have not been paid for the last more than three years and their families are facing starvation. This is cruel act on the part of State authorities. Their exploitation be stopped forthwith.
At Nowshera, the PHE workers from Kalakote, Sunderbani and Nowshera held strong protest at Divisional Headquarters. They also took out strong rally. In Rajouri and Poonch towns, protest rallies were taken out by the workers.
Reports of similar protests and rallies have been received from Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Doda, Ramban, Reasi and several other places. The workers have gone on seventy- two hour strike and the water supply has been affected at various places with the ongoing strike of the workers. They have resolved to intensify their struggle.
A senior PHE officer said that about 16,000 temporary PHE workers are managing the water supply in Jammu region. Over 70 % of the supplies especially in rural areas are dependent on these workers. He said with their strike about 20-30 % area is still affected as other permanent employees are running the water supply systems by giving extra duty. He said in Jammu city also about 10-15 % of the supplies have been effected.
Follow our WhatsApp channel