News from Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network—Udupi (RD/CN)
Udupi, Oct 22: The registered contractors operating under the district Public Works Department (PWD) and Zilla Panchayat (ZP) Contractors’ Association, are owed dues amounting over Rs 16 crore, said Alevoor Sridar Shetty, president of the association, at a press conference held on Tuesday October 21
The payment has been pending for the past year despite the office-bearers of the association having brought this to the attention of the chief minister, home minister, finance minister, PWD secretary and chief engineer, through personal meetings, added Shetty.
Despite several months having passed since the work was undertaken under the MLA’s fund, MP’s fund, and the natural calamities fund, the deputy commissioner (DC) has not issued directives to the concerned departments to pay the bills, thereby causing hardships to the contractors, he alleged.
This has in turn led to difficulties in paying the wages of labourers and other overheads. The contractors have threatened the district administration that they will stop all work in the district from Saturday November 1, if their bills are not paid by Friday October 31, stressed Shetty.
Association chief secretary Annayya Nayak Patla, secretary Jitesh Kumar, and member Ashok Kumar Shetty, were present at the press conference.