Jaipur: The BJP state govt faces a fresh governance test amid polling for 309 urban local bodies, with PHED Contractual Agency Association announcing an indefinite strike over mounting unpaid dues.The association said its members would withdraw manpower from Wednesday, warning that agencies can no longer operate Public Health Engineering Department facilities without funds. Contract workers run and maintain a share of drinking water infrastructure across the state, making the strike a direct threat to supply in several towns heading to the polls.“In June, dues stood at Rs 4,500 crore, of which the govt has paid only Rs 2,000 crore. Contractors involved in operations and maintenance of key projects are also owed another Rs 500 crore. Several firms have shut down and others are unable to pay wages. In this situation, we are compelled to withdraw manpower from Wednesday,” said Om Prakash Bishnoi, president of the association’s Sangharsh Committee.Engineers warned that Jaipur could face the sharpest impact because the Bisalpur project, its key water source, is fully outsourced. “If supply from Bisalpur is hit, divisional offices cannot ensure distribution. Several areas going to poll on Wednesday depend on this supply,” said an engineer.A senior PHED official said the department was hopeful that the contractor outsourced for Bisalpur supply would not join the strike. “The overdue is applicable only for JJM projects. Despite being part of the same association, we don’t think the contractor would withdraw manpower from Bisalpur supply. Payments for O&M of Bisalpur supply have no issues,”said the official.This is the association’s second strike in three months. A June 17 strike was deferred after a memorandum of understanding promised phased payments.
