Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: Association of Small and Tiny Industries Samba (ASTIS) Jammu Province has urged the Government to release pending payments of last three years of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) works carried out in various part of the Jammu region.
In a press statement, president of ASTIS, Harvinder Singh and general secretary Darshal Lal said that although Government had issued notification to Rural Development Department (RDD) to start MGNREGA works so that rural economy should be brought on the track, which has seen drastic downfall in recent past due to lockdown in view of COVID-19.
“Although Government has issued order to resume works in rural areas under this central flagship but due to pending payment or liabilities of contractors for the last three years, the later are not showing interest to take up news works, which has been deteriorating the situation,” they added. .
They further informed that the issue was taken up with the Secretary, Rural Development Department in February this year, who directed the Director RDD Jammu to release all the pending liabilities but till date, no action has been taken in this regard.
Highlighting their concern, they further said that the undue delay in clearing the pending liabilities of contractors by the department, the small units associated with construction materials have been facing huge financial crunch as they are not getting new orders.
“If construction works under MGNREGA will not be carried out, it will automatically affect on our industries,” they informed further adding that already 70 % of small industries has suffered huge loss in last few months and many units have been declared NPA.
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