Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 29: The Jammu and Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCC) has made an earnest appeal to the Government of J&K to release all outstanding payments due from 1st April, 2025, onwards.
JKCCC emphasized the urgency of this demand in light of the upcoming Eid-ul-Adha and the severe financial crisis being faced by contractors across Jammu and Kashmir
In a statement issued to the press, JKCCC Chairman Ghulam Jeelani Purza said that despite contractors having completed substantial work under the Jal Jeevan Mission, no payments have been made since last year August 2024.
“Contractors were initially assured timely disbursement of funds under this high-priority national mission. However, due to prolonged non-release of payments, many contractors are now facing financial distress,’ he said.
Jeelani Purza appealed for the immediate release of contractors’ performance security amounts and bill deposits as an interim relief. He noted that a formal proposal regarding this was submitted to the Government in last year, but no action has been taken so far.
The Committee also expressed deep concern over the pending payments under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) scheme. Contractors have been continuously executing work under the scheme without receiving any payment for the past three years, leaving their financial situation in a dire state, it said.
Committee further added that the Capex Budget, which is normally released by March or April each year, has still not been made available as June approaches. The Government had earlier promised that the remaining 25 percent of last year’s budget would be prioritized in the new fiscal year, but no steps have been taken so far.
The committee urged the administration-particularly Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy CM Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Cabinet Ministers, Chief Secretary Atul Dulloo, Administrative Secretary, Finance Department Shailendra Kumar and Principal Secretary Jal Shakti Department Shaleen Kabra -to resolve the long-pending financial issues in a time-bound manner.
Follow our WhatsApp channel