Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Jan 20: Central Contractors Coordination Committee today protested at Central Treasury here against the Government’s failure to release their pending bills.
The protesters said that their pending bills of first quarter of the current financial year were not released.
“Government is doing sheer injustice with contractors which are also affecting developmental works in the Valley. Bills worth Rs 800 crore are pending with government departments which are not released for unknown reasons,” Farooq Ahmad Dar, J&KCCCC General Secretary said.
Dar said that contractors have also suffered losses to the tune of Rs 150 crore due to recent floods which was not compensated so far by the Government.
“Government should have cleared the bills of first two quarters and also compensated the losses to the infrastructure contractors have suffered. It seems Government is deliberately ignoring Kashmir and letting its people to suffer,” Dar said.
The protesting contractors threatened to come on roads and forcibly lock all the treasuries if their payment was not released.
“Government is leaving us with no option but to come on road and take harsh steps,” said contractors.
“Winter has already set in and the current financial year is also coming to close. If funds for infrastructure are not released, then only either Jammu will be benifitted or the funds will lapse,” Dar said.
They also met Treasury Officer at Residency Road Central Treasury and apprised him of the hardships the contractors are facing due to the non-clearance of the bills.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel