The Pauri Contractors’ Association with the support of the common people and different associations will intensify their agitation against the proposed closure of Pauri Public Works Department Construction Division office and its shifting to Paubo.This was decided at a meeting convened by the contractors’ association on Ramlila ground at district headquarter Pauri on Wednesday. Representatives from different organisations aside from the common people attended it.
As part of the full-blown stir that is threatened, the protestors will shutter down Public Works Department, including the office of the chief engineer, on Thursday. Besides, the market of the Pauri town will remain closed on Saturday and Sunday in support of the agitation.The protestors staged a rally on Wednesday that started from Ramlila ground and progressed to the collectorate with the participants shouting anti- Government slogans.
They also raised slogans against the Chief Minister Harish Rawat and MlA Srinagar Garhwal constituency Ganesh Godiyal. The association leaders said the stir will continue till the State Government meets their and the common people’s demands.The association members expressed anger over the State Government’s decision to shift the Pauri PWD construction division to Paubo. They said MlA Ganesh Godiyal is responsible for the decision to shift the division from Pauri to Paubo.
Since Uttarakhand came up in 2000, the district and regional headquarters Pauri are being neglected despite the fact that the people here sacrificed a lot during the statehood movement, those leading the stir said, adding that the people would no longer allow themselves to be taken for a ride by the unscrupulous politicians. .
A member of the association said that the Pauri Business Association has lent full support to the agitation and has decided to keep markets closed on 24 and 25 January. Jagdish Singh Bisht (Congress), Ganga Prasad Ujjayall (Congress), Mukesh Rawat (BJP), Gambhir (Student Union), Savitri Devi, Bimla of Mahila Mangal Dal Pauri village, Rajendra(rajju) Rawat, president Business Association were among those present at the meeting.