Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 29: The contractors working under key Government water supply schemes, including the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and the National Rural Drinking Water Programme (NRDWP) today raised an alarm over severe financial distress caused by prolonged delays in payments.
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The issues which were faced by the members of association were raised by Rajesh Kumar, president, Jal Shakti (PHE) Contractors Welfare Association in a press conference organized here today.
Addressing to the media persons, Rajesh said, “The contractors involved in the execution of civil and mechanical works under JJM have not received payments for over nine months, despite most of the projects being completed and functional. The delay has made it impossible for many to pay workers, who are now threatening to strike, further jeopardizing public utility services.”
“The situation is equally grim for projects executed under the languishing schemes, where pending payments and unreleased security deposits have left contractors running from pillar to post for resolution,” he said.
The president of Jal Shakti Contractors Association said, “In the case of NRDWP, payments for both old and new projects remain stuck, despite the completion of works. They are on the brink of collapse, with many unable to meet even basic expenses. Several have already defaulted on taxes like GST and exhausted their credit lines.”
“The delay is not just unjust, it is dangerous,” he said adding “If immediate action is not taken, critical infrastructure works may come to a halt, affecting thousands of workers and millions of rural citizens relying on these services.”
“Additionally, labourers and material suppliers, who have not received their dues, are now threatening to halt work and take legal action, which could bring ongoing public utility projects to a complete standstill. The situation is critical and demands urgent intervention to prevent irreversible damage to both the livelihoods of hundreds of workers and the progress of essential public infrastructure projects,” Rajesh Kumar added.
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