Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 3: Many parts of Jammu city and major towns of the region facing massive water crisis for the last three days due to strike of the PHE workers got some relief as the PHE Union suspended its strike for one week and the water supply operation was resumed this evening.
Official sources said that after talks with the Divisional Commissioner Jammu and the Chief Engineer PHE Sushil Aima and other SEs in two rounds today, the Union/ Association members agreed to suspend strike for one week. The Union said that these officers on behalf of PHE Minister and Chief Secretary gave assurance that new policy for regularisation of these agitating workers will be framed and they will be regularized as per policy. They also said that public was suffering badly and the water supply should be restored. Upon this, the Union members led by Subash Verma, Rattan Doshi, Swarn Singh and others announced to suspend strike on the third day today. A Union member Ram Parkash said that the workers have resumed their duties and they have started water supply operation in all the districts and tehsils of the region. He regretted inconvenience caused to the public.
In entire Jammu city and other major towns of the region the public suffered badly. Today the people came out on the roads against PHE staff and held strong protests at many places. A large number of people thronged PHE office at B C Road and conducted `gherao’ of the Chief Engineer’s office. Additional police was deployed at the PHE complex sensing clash of public with the striking PHE workers. The people were forced to fetch water from different sources including Ranbir Canal, `Bhowlis’, hand pumps, tube wells etc due to strike.
Last evening, the JEs, AEs AEEs etc assisted by policemen started water supply operation in many city areas. The workers had damaged panels of Pumping Station machinery at many places. They also stopped operation of tanker water supply.
Reports from Samba, Kathua, Vijaypur, Bari Brahmana, Udhampur, Nowshera, Rajouri, Reasi and other parts said that similar problems is being faced by the public there as the authorities failed to make alternative arrangements. The public anger was going high against the striking PHE workers and they maintained that Government can not remain mute spectator. At Muthi, New Plot, Janipur, Resham Ghar and many other areas of Jammu people held protest against PHE.
Kranti Dal, Jammu Peace People Forum, BSP and PDP held protests against PHE staff for not supply water to the public. They demanded that alternative arrangements be made to ensure water supply to public.
The PHE workers led by senior leaders Subash Verma, Rattan Doshi, Manzoor Ali, Tilak Raj, Swarn Singh and others earlier in the morning held strong protest rally at PHE Complex BC Road 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.
Chief Engineer PHE, Mr Aima said that talks with employees leaders remained successful today. Ist round of talks was held in presence of Divisional Commissioner Jammu. He said that after talks and assurance from Government, the workers have suspended their strike for a week. They have been told that policy to regularize these workers will be in place within a week and moreover, issue is likely to be resolved in coming Cabinet meeting.
All the workers resumed their duties in the evening.
Follow our WhatsApp channel