Pampore: New Zaffron Truck drivers and Carriage Contractors Union Pampore have appealed Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Secretary and Chief Engineer Power development Department for release of their wages pending for past two and half years.
Gulzar Ahmad, president of truck drivers union told Kashmir Reader that 48 trucks were hired by PDD in the year 2018 carrying electrical equipment received under Saubhgaya scheme from Central Store Pampore to different districts across the Valley.
” We ferried electric poles, wires, transformers and other equipment from 2018 to 2019 from central store in Pampore to different areas and freight was fixed as the distance covered in kilometres, we received our remuneration for the districts of Kupwara and Srinagar but for others districts the amount that accounts to Rs 18,72,704 is pending with PDP, “he said, adding that they made repeated representations before concerned authorities but to no avail.
He told Kashmir Reader that they were badly hit after abrogation of article 370 and imposition of Corona lock down.
” We have been sitting idle since the August of 2019 and have no other means of earning livelihood, our families are facing a lot of problems,” he said, adding that delaying payment of their is pushing them to starvation.
” We appeal, LG Sahib, Chief Secretary and higher authorities of PDD to look into our grievance and direct concerned officers for release of our wages,” he said, as it would be a great relief to around a hundred families drivers and their associates.
The association members also stage a silent sit in protest at Pampore maintaining SOP’s on COVID-19 on Monday.

BILAL HABIB