PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The contractors working under the Jal Jeevan Mission have warned of a state-wide agitation if the government does not immediately clear their payments pending for nearly two and a half years for completed and ongoing projects.
Addressing the media here on Monday, the president of Devbhoomi Jal Shakti Contractors Welfare Association, Amit Agarwal said that ‘Har Ghar Nal Se Jal’ being a highly ambitious and public welfare scheme of the Prime Minister, the State government along with the departments concerned initiated several projects and significant progress has been made in Uttarakhand. “As per data, 92.46 per cent of the work is complete. Out of 16,555 schemes, 15,540 have been completed and drinking water connections have been provided to 14.20 lakh out of 14.48 lakh families. Yet, the contractors’ legitimate dues have remained unpaid, which have landed us in a grim financial crisis,” Agarwal said.
Explaining things further, he said that they had completed the assigned work using their own resources, bank loans and market credit for material, labour, machinery and transport as per departmental instructions. “While our working capital is being affected, we are facing
banking obligations. Our survival in business seems to be at stake,” he said.
Hitting out at the State government, he said that while it would put pressure on the contractors to complete the work on time, it is sitting on their pre-approved payment.
Referring to the chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami’s review meeting on August 13 on Jal Jeevan Mission, Agarwal said that his emphasis on early completion was welcome. “But the issue of pending payments to contractors who invested their own money should have been given equal priority,” he stressed.
“We urged the CM to immediately intervene and issue clear directions to the department. The district-wise and division-wise details of pending dues for all completed and departmentally verified works under Jal Jeevan Mission must be prepared and immediate payment should be ensured on priority. We also seek examination and time-bound clearance of pending running and interim bills,” he said, adding that the contractors should not be held responsible for delays caused by factors beyond their control and that after an impartial review, appropriate time extensions should be granted as per contract terms.
“If the matter is not resolved soon, lack of working capital will impact the progress of schemes,” he warned while threatening state-wide agitation if their demand for prompt payment of their dues is not met.
