Patna: Hundreds of Nal-Jal (tap water scheme) maintenance workers, including pump operators and maintenance staff, from across Bihar gathered in Patna on Tuesday to press for their six demands. The protesters assembled at Gandhi Maidan before marching towards JP Golambar as part of their planned protest outside the CM’s residence.Police stopped them at J P Golambar using barricades, following which many protesters sat on the road. Security was stepped up at JP Golambar, Dakbungalow Chowk and Income Tax roundabout, with station house officers from several city police stations and officers of SDPO rank deployed.Nal-Jal Anurakshak Sangh state president Ganesh Choudhary said he had been leading the agitation at the Gardanibagh protest site for 51 days and claimed to have been on hunger strike. He said workers had been raising their demands for weeks but the govt had not taken concrete action.The protesters said their march would remain peaceful but warned of intensifying the agitation if the govt failed to take a positive decision. After the protest at J P Golambar, they returned to the Gardanibagh site.Gandhi Maidan police station SHO Akhilesh Mishra said there was no law and order issue and the workers left the site peacefully.The mobilisation affected security and traffic arrangements in central Patna with police deployed along the proposed route to prevent the protesters from proceeding towards the CM’s residence.
