AJK infrastructure: Strike brings dead-stop to roadwork

Rs2.5 billion project is the largest road project in AJK.

MUZAFFARABAD:

Construction work on Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) largest road project encountered a roadblock after 55-member engineering staff of Earthquake Emergency Assistance Programme (EEAP) went on an indefinite strike to push for an enhancement of their salaries.

The Rs2.5 billion Asian Development Bank (ADB)-funded project, at 75 kilometres, is the largest road project in AJK.

While ADB agreed to the increase in the salaries of the technical staff, the Earthquake Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Authority’s (ERRA) forum did not approve the increase, despite increasing the salaries of half of the EEAP staff.

The technical staff of EEAP had moved the AJK High Court against discrimination in salary packages paid by ERRA and the court had ordered uniformity in pay packages for all employees of EEAP projects.

However, ERRA, which is supervising the EEAP Neelum Valley Road Project, ignored the court order.

The supervising staff has also filed a contempt of court application against EEAP and ERRA.

Construction work of Neelum Valley Road is being carried out by a Chinese construction company under the supervision of EEAP engineering staff. The ADB provided Rs13 billion through the EEAP for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of earthquake-affected areas of AJK.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2011.