Govt deploy cops to protect tube wells in Jammu region
After the talks with agitating daily wagers of Public Health Engineering (PHE) department in Jammu region failed the administration deployed police personnel at several tube wells as a precautionary measures.
Official sources told, the decision was taken to protect machinery as well as government property as 22000 PHE daily wagers refused to join duties and extend their stir by 48 hours after the negations were failed.
“The team of officials led by Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar held threadbare discussion with union leaders of PHE daily wagers. The Divisional Commissioner sought sometime to address their demands but in meantime the union leaders extended their stir by 48 hours,” they said.
However, keeping in view of any untoward incident the Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel have been deployed in the tube wells. The cops are directed to take over all the tube wells and water pumps for their protection till the strike is over.
“We have been told by the higher officers of PHE and Jal Shakti department that some bad elements could damage the machinery and to act upon their complaint, cops have been deputed in the premises of the tube wells and water pumps’ ‘, a senior police officer informed.
Approximately 22,000 PHE workers are on strike while around 10,000 employees in Kashmir are also contemplating to follow the path of Jammu based workers. The PHE workers under the umbrella of PHE Employees United Front (Jammu province), have been on strike for the last three days. Their strike has , however, hit the water supply in Jammu.
They demanded the regularisation of the daily rated workers, enhancement of Minimum Wages as per Central law in J&K UT, enhancement of Medical Allowance of the employees and workers, release of pending wages of 70 months of PHE workers.
They condemned the rigid and anti-employee attitude of some senior Government officers and even the BJP leaders who only befooled them and did nothing for getting their long pending issues resolved. They said their strike will continue if there will be no response from the UT Administration, adding, the strike can be further extended.
Meanwhile, many Jammu localities are facing drinking water crisis. At several places the people held protests against the PHE authorities. They alleged that there was no supply of water in their areas as mostly 70 % daily wager staff has been engaged for releasing water to the city localities. They alleged that even Jal Shakti department failed to provide water through tankers.
