PHE workers take out rally from Lakhanpur to Kathua

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Apr 7: The PHE daily wage, ITI trained and CP workers today took out a large protest rally from Lakhanpur to Kathua.
Under the leadership of Tanveer Hussain, leader of the PHE workers, the PHE workers from various PHE Divisions and Sub Divisions from Kathua and Samba including Hiranagar, Basohli, Billawar and Ghagwal assembled at Lakhanpur in the morning and then started on-foot protest march.
They were shouting slogans against Government and senior PHE officers. Many of them were carrying banners and placards in their hands projecting their demands. The agitating workers were demanding release of their long pending wages, their regularization and timely payment of their wages every month.
After reaching Kalibari, the agitating workers sat on dharna on the National Highway and disrupted the movement of traffic for some time. Later, the police intervened and cleared the highway. The agitating workers then moved towards DC Office and held protest demonstration there for some time.
With the ongoing agitation of temporary PHE workers the water supply to many rural areas of Kathua, Samba and other towns has been affected. Most of the PHE stations are being managed by daily wagers in these districts. Some areas of Kandi belt like Dinga Amb, Mangloor, Balote, Garh, Parngoli, Sallan, Mela, Thein etc are getting water supply even after 3-4 days. PHE Department has failed to provide even tanker service to these areas. The higher authorities have failed to resolve the issue even after 25 days of this strike.
Meanwhile, president of the Association Tanveer Hussain claimed that newly inducted Minister for PHE, I&FC Sham Choudhary has invited them for the talks tomorrow at 2 pm. He said there are lot of hopes from the new minister to the agitating workers.

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