BENGALURU: The Karnataka State Contractors’ Association (KSCA) on Monday met Chief Minister DK Shivakumar and appealed to him to look into their demands, including the immediate release of pending dues of Rs 38,000crore.
The association held a two-hour meeting with the CM, and handed over a representation to him. The contractors said they had reminded the CM about the promises made when he was Deputy Chief Minister. “You assured us that after you are elected Chief Minister, you will call the office-bearers of the association, discuss and release the dues within two months... You are touring all districts of Karnataka and trying to solve their local problems, but you have forgotten about 1,50,000 contractors and their dependents in the entire state,” the association stated.
Claiming that the CM had responded positively and agreed to release the dues for pending bills, the association said he had given the responsibility to Financial Adviser LK Atheeq and Finance Secretary Tushar Girinath to resolve the problems of contractors.
Alleging that tenders are being called for unfunded works, the association has demanded an immediate stop to this practice. About Rs 16,000crore worth of work may be taken up under the ‘CM’s Rural Road Connectivity Scheme’, for which the cabinet has given approval; the government should first clear old dues and then take up new projects, they said.
“This government should not make the mistake made by the previous government: contractors who are already in trouble should not be put to further trouble, and new development work should be undertaken only after outstanding money is paid,” said R Manjunath, President, KSCA, adding that appropriate action should be taken to maintain seniority in the department and release money accordingly.
The association stated that in all departments, work has been bundled together and a package system has been introduced. They requested that the package system be abolished as it is inconvenient for small and medium contractors. “Around 70 per cent of MLAs interfere in the tender process, and this should stop. MLAs at the district and taluk levels should give priority to awarding tenders to local contractors. The CM is requested to take urgent action on this issue,” the association stressed.
The Karnataka Forest Department has called for tenders without the approval of the Finance department, cancelled them, and awarded these jobs to non-contractors under Section 13(b), in violation of the law. “Steps should be taken to convene a meeting of Forest department officers along with office-bearers of the Association,” the representation stated.