Jammu and Kashmir has a shortfall of over 45,000 staff in Public Health Engineering department, which caters to safe drinking water supply to people.
"There is shortfall of 45,220 staff in PHE department in both Jammu and Kashmir divisions," PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control minister Sham Lal Sharma told the state assembly in response to a query.
To meet the requirement, 7,390 workers were employed on daily wage basis, he said, adding that these workers are paid Rs 125 per day.
Also 640 vacancies have already been referred to the recruiting agencies concerned for selection, the minister said.
Meanwhile, there were noisy scenes in the House over the appointment of daily wagers and casual labourers as the members alleged discrimination.
CPI(M) legislator M Y Tarigami said how come just 17 persons were employed on daily wages in three years from 2003 in Kulgam area of Kashmir.
