BENGALURU: Electrical contractors of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike on Monday set their maintenance vehicles in front of the BBMP head office and staged a protest, demanding payment of pending wages.
They alleged that about 125 contractors had not been paid for 20 months. “We have families and the workers depend on the salaries we give. If we do not get money, all will suffer,” said Shridhar, president of the BBMP Electrical Contractors Association.
All street lights are managed by the BBMP and complaints from consumers are routed to these workers. “We have been working without payment for several months and all are in debt,” said KS Mohan. He added that it is difficult for 125 contractors to maintain workers without any salary.
“If the BBMP fails to clear our dues, we will turn off the street lights, including those where the BBMP commissioner resides. Few culprits who look for opportunities to snatch chains and mug people in the dark will find it easy and it will be the responsibility of the BBMP,” Mohan said.
BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana said he was aware of the problem and would ask the chief accounts officer to release the amount to clear payments.