Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Feb 27: J&K Central Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCCC) held a protest demonstration today against the Government’s failure to release their bills which are pending with various departments.
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Scores of contractors who assembled at Press Enclave burnt the effigy of Finance Minister and demanded clearance of bills which they claimed were pending with the Government.
The protesting contractors alleged that bills worth Rs 350 crore have been pending with various departments. “Due to political compulsion, liabilities of Rs 350 crore from last four years are pending and Government is least bothered about releasing this whopping amount,” they alleged.
The protest demonstration was led by JKCCCC General Secretary, Farooq Ahmad Dar in which contractors from various departments participated.
Demanding immediate release of the claims, Farooq questioned, why the contractors should bear the loss due to negligence of engineers and politicians, who force them to complete the work without arranging the required funds in advance.
Farooq said the contractors are being deprived of their livelihood and compelled to borrow money as their pockets are empty, he said, adding, “the online system of billing introduced by the State Government is not suitable for Kashmir where every now and then there is e-curfew.”
He called for indefinite strike against Government for not meeting the demands of thousands of contractors in the state and accused Finance Minister, Dr Haseeb Drabu for deliberately creating the financial crunch to ‘keep Government of India in good humor’.
The contractors later tried to march towards the Chief Minister’s residence but police swung into action, foiled the march and detained several protesters.
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