Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 22: Contractors working under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and other affiliated schemes in Jammu and Kashmir today demanded the immediate release of pending payments, citing delays that have left them financially strained for over 14 months.
Addressing a press conference here, a spokesperson said their pending bills, worth over Rs 10,500 crore, remain uncleared despite repeated efforts to secure payment.”These payments are our own money deposited under Government heads. We have made countless representations to the Government, met MLAs and ministers, including Javid Rana, and even approached central authorities, but no positive response has come,” he said.
The contractors highlighted their work under the 2019 Central Government-launched Jal Jeevan Mission, aimed at providing tap water to every household. “We have implemented projects across the UT worth around Rs 6,750 crore. Yet the Government has not cleared our dues, leaving many schemes incomplete or stalled,” they said.
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They alleged bureaucratic inaction and lack of local Government interest. “Officials have not taken any initiative. Many projects have been inaugurated, but payments are still pending, and new projects have not even started,” the spokesperson added.
Contractors also refuted allegations of financial misappropriation. “The total project cost was about Rs 14,000 crore, but only Rs 6,750 crore was allocated. Accusations of misappropriating Rs 13,500 crore are false and misleading. Civil costs account for roughly 35% of project funds, with the rest supplied by the Government,” they said.
They further described bureaucratic hurdles following the introduction of e-tendering. “As per SBD rules, payments should be released within a month after completing 25% of the work. Yet, in the last 14 months, we have received nothing. There has been no correspondence from the Chief Secretary, the Secretariat, or the Center,” they said.
The contractors emphasized that they are the backbone of development. “Whether it is roads, water, or electricity, development begins with contractors. Yet, neither the Chief Minister nor the Lieutenant Governor has addressed our grievances. Even small payment delays are stalling large projects and affecting society at large,” they said.
They urged the Chief Minister and Lieutenant Governor to intervene personally. “If there are any complaints or procedural issues, they can investigate them. But the entire contractor community cannot suffer. The Government inaugurated schemes promising timely payments, but nothing has been delivered,” the spokesperson said.
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