DOGRA HERALD BUREAU
JAMMU, Dec 21
General Secretary of the J&K Pradesh Congress Committee and DDC Suchetgarh, Taranjit Singh Tony, has strongly condemned the inaction and callous attitude of UT authorities towards the contractors’ fraternity. He expressed serious concern about the non-payment of dues for executed works, leading to a grinding halt in development initiatives.
In a statement issued here today, the senior Congress leader highlighted the plight of contractors who haven’t received payments for the last two months despite completing work as per e-tendering procedures.
“Treasuries remain laden with pending bills submitted by concerned departments, while contractors struggle to fulfill financial obligations and even face difficulties meeting their children’s school fees,” he said.
Tony questioned the rationale behind withholding payments after accepting services and demanded a thorough investigation into the matter. Pointing towards the immense hardships faced by contractors, he said their lives have become hell due to non-payment. They are unable to pay salaries to their workforce or meet basic expenses, he added.
In light of the dire situation, Tony appealed to the Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha to intervene and ensure immediate disbursement of all pending dues. He further emphasized the need to address the issue of interest on delayed payments to provide fair compensation to the affected contractors.
“Prompt resolution will not only provide financial relief but also restore confidence and ensure the smooth resumption of development activities in the Union Territory,” he added.
