SRINAGAR: A body of contractors in Kashmir says it will present a black flag to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as a mark of protest against the state government’s non-payment of bills.
A statement by the Jammu and Kashmir Central Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCCC) says presenting the flag to Singh when he arrives in Kashmir on June 25 “is the last thing we can do to”.
“The state government’s reluctance in meeting our demands has forced us to greet PM in such an unsavory way. He (PM) is going to inaugurate the Banihal-Qazigund rail section on June 25. We have decided to assemble at the spot and greet him a black flag,” the statement reads.
Nearly 70,000 contractors have boycotted developmental works as they say the government has witheld payment of bills amounting to 700 crore rupees.
“Flyovers, commercial complexes, Tehzeeb Mahal at TRC, shopping complex Ram Bagh, Rs 20 crore drug store at JVC hospital, SIDCO bridge at Shopain, Moghul road etc are some of the big projects to have been hit by the ongoing boycott of developmental works,” the JKCCCC says.
It says that withholding of massive funds (owing to paucity of funds in Treasury department) is heavily telling upon the contractors.
“We don’t understand that despite completing developmental works on time why the government is delaying our payments. We warn it (government) that prolonged insensitivity towards 70,000 contractors must end,” the statement further reads.
