PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Members of the Karmchari Adhikari Sanyukt Morcha continued their protest on Thursday, marking the fourth day of their demonstration. They warned that if no action is taken on their longstanding demands, they would intensify their agitation. Among those who participated in the protest on Thursday were the Uttarakhand Jal Sansthan (UJS) employees from the Raipur branch, North branch and Dehradun city area.
Notably, the protesters began their indefinite stir on July 6 at the UJS headquarters in Dehradun, demanding their department be designated as a government body (Rajkiyakaran) and rollback of the authorities’ decision to transfer revenue collection responsibilities to Peyjal Nigam. They said that Jal Sansthan is responsible for maintenance and revenue collection, while Peyjal Nigam is tasked with construction work. However, the recent shift, assigning revenue collection duties to Peyjal Nigam, is adversely affecting Jal Sansthan employees.
Addressing the gathering on Thursday, the Morcha advisor Vinod Verma said that they expect the State government to immediately take over UJS and designate it as a government body. “It will end our salary uncertainty,” he said and then warned that if the demand is not met, they would expand their movement. “It will no longer be a mere sit-in but may take more vigorous forms,” he said.
Among others who addressed the agitators were the chief coordinator Nandlal Joshi and Pradeep Thapliyal. They urged the workers to remain united under all circumstances.
