Banihal tunnel to miss June ’16 deadline

RK Kichlu

Banihal, August 28

Work remained suspended on the 8.45-km tunnel under construction between Banihal and Qazigund since August 1 due to workers’ strike.

Because of the cumulative suspension of work for 468 days since the project started in 2011, the completion of the project is expected to overrun its deadline of June 2016.

Once completed, the tunnel will shorten the distance between Banihal and Qazigund by 16 km, besides providing protection from snow, avalanches and landslides.

After disruption for the first three days of August by owners whose land was acquired, workers in Qazigund suspended work on August 4 and those in Banihal on August 19 against Navyuga Construction Company (NCC) of Hyderabad.

The company is executing work for the NHAI on BOOT basis and has employed about 550 workers, of whom 85 per cent are locals and the rest from Hyderabad.

“Our main demands include recognition of the workers’ union under CITU, payments as per Jammu and Kahmir labour laws and security measures for workers at the site,” said Atta Mohammed, workers’ leader.

“Our provident fund is not fixed, salaries are delayed for months and safety equipment like shoes and jackets are not provided to all workers,” he said.

“We do not get medical allowance, special allowance is unspecified and paid to some and there is disparity in salaries and allowances of local and outsiders,” he said.

“There is disparity in the payment of overtime allowance, no mention of mess allowance on our pay slips and no agreement on payment of retrenchment compensation,” he said.

About 2,100 kanals had been acquired from about 3,000 villagers. “Nearly 80 per cent payment has been made to all claimants, but they have filed a suit in the High Court demanding enhancement,” said Babu Ram, Ramban ADC and Collector, Land Acquisition.

Rubbishing the workers’ allegations as baseless, NCC liaison officer Gh Mustafa Khan called their ongoing strike as arm-twisting tactics on the provocation of some disgruntled land owners to get their union recognised under CITU and establish office in a building on project campus.

“We are paying their salaries on time as per rules and better than any other company working in the state. There is no need for a union when all issues have been resolved or are being heard patiently. The Regional Labour Commissioner, Jammu, has dismissed their allegations,” he said.

“Despite having received salaries for one full year, they are illogically demanding overtime allowance for seven months last year when work was suspended due to a financial crunch. Their provident fund details are recorded. The company will pay retrenchment compensation as per laws,” he added.