The Kashmir Pulse

JAMMU — Thousands of daily wagers from different parts of Jammu and Kashmir staged a protest in Jammu on Monday, demanding implementation of minimum wage provisions and permanent status for those who have completed the required period of service and fulfil the eligibility criteria.

The protesters sought implementation of the Minimum Wages Act, a law intended to ensure that workers covered by its provisions are paid at least the minimum wage fixed by the government for their category of employment.

Raising slogans in support of their demands, the workers said they had continued working for government departments and other establishments for years without receiving the job security enjoyed by regular employees.

"We are not asking for anything extraordinary. We are demanding the minimum wage prescribed by law and a fair policy for those daily wagers who have completed the required service and are eligible for permanent status," protesters said.

Another group of workers said prolonged engagement on a daily-wage basis had left thousands of families uncertain about their future.

"Many of us have spent years doing the same work, but we still do not know what our future is. We want the government to settle the issue instead of keeping workers waiting year after year," they said.

The protesters demanded that the government undertake a comprehensive assessment of daily wagers, identify those eligible for regularisation or permanent status, and establish a clear timeline for resolving their cases.

They also urged the administration to ensure that wage payments comply with applicable statutory provisions and that workers are not left vulnerable to prolonged uncertainty over their employment.

PULWAMA — Three police personnel, including an officer, were injured after an escort vehicle rolled down following a tyre burst near Zirayat Sharief in Awantipora on Monday.

The Scorpio, being used as the escort vehicle of DYSP DAR Awantipora, met with the accident after one of its tyres reportedly burst, causing the vehicle to roll down.

The injured were identified as DYSP DAR Awantipora Rafiq Ahmed and his two Personal Security Officers (PSOs), SGCT Amir Ahmad and Riyaz Ahmad.

All three injured personnel were initially shifted to PHC Awantipora for medical attention. They were subsequently referred to SMHS Hospital Srinagar for further treatment.

Further details regarding their condition were awaited.

SRINAGAR — Srinagar's Dal Lake is facing fresh concerns over its deteriorating condition, with large stretches of water appearing green, thick weed growth visible across the lake, and hundreds of fish reportedly found either dead or in an unconscious state.

Several shikarawalas alleged that water quality has sharply deteriorated and claimed that diesel leakage from machines used for mechanical de-weeding is contributing to the contamination of the lake, in interactions with the news agency KNT.

The machinery deployed by the Lakes Conservation and Management Authority (LCMA) includes a high-capacity de-weeding machine procured for mechanical removal of weeds from Dal Lake, designed to extract and remove large quantities of aquatic weeds. However, shikarawalas alleged that the machinery is leaking diesel into the water during operations, claiming the contamination is visible in the lake's deteriorating condition.

"This water has become worse than drainage water. You can see the colour of the lake yourself. There are weeds everywhere, and fish are dying. If the machines are being used to clean the lake but are themselves leaking diesel into it, what kind of cleaning is this?" some shikarawalas said.

The boatmen claimed hundreds of fish have recently been seen floating in the lake, with some appearing unconscious and others already dead. They said the condition of the aquatic ecosystem should be independently examined rather than dismissed as a routine seasonal problem.

Residents demand accountability

Locals also expressed concern over the rapid spread of weeds and the changing appearance of the lake.

"The Dal Lake is not just a tourist attraction. It is a natural ecosystem. If the fish are dying and the water is turning green, somebody has to answer what is happening inside this lake," a local resident said.

Another shikarawala questioned the impact of past conservation spending. "Crores and crores have been spent in the name of saving Dal Lake. If so much money has been spent, why has the condition not improved? Where has the money gone, and who benefited from it? Everything needs to be investigated," he said.

Official records and previous reports show substantial expenditure on mechanical cleaning, de-weeding and related equipment for Dal Lake over the years. A 2015 report recorded expenditure of Rs 25.15 crore on cleaning machines since 1997, including weed harvesters and other lake-cleaning equipment.

Calls for independent assessment

The allegations regarding diesel contamination have not been independently verified. An independent scientific assessment of the lake water would be required to establish whether diesel or any other contaminant is present and whether it is contributing to the reported impact on aquatic life.

Several shikarawalas demanded that the government constitute an independent committee comprising people of integrity and technical experts to examine the condition of Dal Lake, the effectiveness of de-weeding operations, water quality, the health of aquatic life, and the expenditure incurred on its conservation over the years.

"The Government should constitute a committee of honest people and let them investigate everything, how much money was sanctioned, where it was spent, what work was actually done and why the lake continues to deteriorate," they said.

The shikarawalas said the issue should not be reduced to another seasonal cleaning exercise, warning that the ecological condition of the lake requires a comprehensive and transparent investigation.