The failure of Jammu and Kashmir administration to break the deadlock with boycotting contractors – demanding release of pending bills – have halted all development works in the state.
A senior official informed that Advisor to Governor KKSharma recently held a meeting with Joint Contractors Coordination Committee(JCCC), which is spearheading the protest against the government for failing torelease unpaid liability of Rs 1,024 crore to these contractors.
The meeting was also attended by the commissioner secretarypublic works department, chief engineer roads and building Kashmir andrepresentatives of JCCC.
“Government representatives urged the JCCC to call offtheir strike and resume work on all developmental projects. However, contractorscategorically rejected the government offer to resume work unless their bills are not cleared,” the officialsaid.
Speaking to Greater Kashmir, co-chairman, JCCC, GhulamJeelani Purza said “We have decided to continue boycott all developmentalworks as the state government is not showing any sincerity to resolve ourgrievances.”
“We were called for a meeting with Advisor Sharma whoasked us to call off the strike. He assured us that he would fix up meetingwith chief secretary and finance department to resolve our issues, but we askedthem to release our payments first,” he added.
“In past government authorities have hoodwinked us bythese false assurances. This time we categorically told them to release ourpayments first then talk of resumption of work. “
Co-chairman of JCCC Farooq Dar, who was also present in themeeting, said, “Government representatives assured us that they willresolve our issues. But we asked them to release payments even if they do itphase wise. “
“We told the advisor that if we will start work ourpending payments will continue to linger on,” Dar said adding that advisorassured that he will take up the issue with the governor.
Development works including languishing projects and repairof roads have come to halt as the state government has failed to release unpaidpayment of contractors amounting to Rs 1,024 crore.
Normally in April the work on development projects used tobe on full swing as the Kashmir witnesses slump in construction activitiesduring winter months due to low temperatures. However this year situation istotally different as the work on all the important projects have come to haltfollowing the boycott call given by joint coordination committee of contractorswho are seeking release of their bills amounting to Rs 1024 crore.