BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractors who had protested against the Palike for not releasing grants will now heave a sigh of relief. BBMP Commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda assured the contractors to clear the dues by end of March.
Members of the BBMP Contractors’ Association had staged a protest in front of the Palike’s main office on January 16. They had alleged that Palike owes `1,000 crore to them and complained that the authorities concerned had not released funds in the last 15 months.
However, they had called off the strike after the commissioner assured to take action. Speaking to Express, Srinivas, president of the association said that commissioner had assured to clear `1,000 crore due by March end. “The Palike will pay `200 crore this week, and another `200 crore by the first week of February,” the association president said.
Also, the association had other demands including providing bill power to the engineers working in Forest Department. Presently, Deputy Conservator of Forest writes bills. Also, they requested the commissioner that Technical Vigilance Cell under the Commissioner (TVCC) not give their report after two years after construction.
“We do not have not any problem with TVCC visiting during construction works. But they visit the place after two years of completing works,” he alleged.
They requested Palike not to give works to Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL), for which commissioner has assured to take action.