J&K Government has an unpaid liability of Rs 719 crore towards the contractors on account of development works carried by them across the state.
Public works department in this regards has sent acommuniqué to finance department seeking immediate release of the funds.
According to thecommuniqué of PWD: “By the end of March2018, the department has executed the works to the extent of Rs 2,349 crore outof which Rs 1429 crore stand already released, however leaving unpaid claim ofRs 919 crore. During the year 2019-20, additionality of Rs 200 crore wasreleased against the unpaid work done liability of Rs 919 crore, therebyleaving balance unpaid work done of Rs 719 crore.”
“In view of above facts, principal secretary to governmentfinance department is requested to release an additional Rs 719 crore to thedepartment for clearing unpaid work done claims of the executing agencies undermacadmization programme in cities and towns,” it states.
A senior PWD official said that they have been urging thegovernment to release the funds so that the liabilities of contractors will becleared. “However, the huge amount of Rs 719 crore is still pending which ishampering the developmental activities.”
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Contractors CoordinationCommittee (JKCCC) has threatened to stop all developmental works and lockoffices of PWD across Jammu and Kashmir.
“We have been pushed to the wall by the government. Works completed by some of our contractors in2014 are yet to receive payments. Some of us have sold our properties to repayour loans, such is the situation of the contractors,” said chairman, JKCCC,Ghulam Jeelani Purza.
“After 2014 floods, we restored roads, buildings, butinstead of awarding us, we are being punished by the state government. We havedone developmental activities, but we are not able to understand why governmentis not paying us. Some of our contractors have turned bankrupt due to delay inpayment of their bills.”
He said that JKCCC has threatened to launch agitation andboycott all works across Jammu and Kashmir, if the state government doesn’t payour bills till March 31.
“We have also warned all the executive engineers that theyshould not issue tender notices when they have no funds to pay our bills,” hesaid. “If the pending bills of the contractors are not paid unitl end of themonth, we will lock the offices of chief engineers and executive engineers.”