Contractors sound alarm over Rs 1,200 Cr pending dues in J&K

Srinagar, Jul 21: The Jammu & Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCC) has sounded the alarm over severe delays in treasury clearances and mounting unpaid dues, with Chairman Ghulam Jeelani Purza urging the government to release over Rs 1,200 crore immediately to avoid paralysing infrastructure development across the Union Territory.

In a detailed statement, Purza said the contractor community is under acute financial distress due to prolonged delays in payment clearances—an issue he claims has worsened since the change in administration. "Earlier, bills were cleared within days under the LG regime. Now, contractors are waiting two to four months with no resolution in sight,” he said.

As per the JKCCC, over Rs 175 crore is pending in the Roads and Buildings (R\&B) Department since 2017, while payments exceeding Rs 1,100 crore remain unpaid under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), despite large-scale completion of works such as pipeline laying, reservoir construction, and filtration plant development.

Purza appealed to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah—who also holds the finance portfolio—along with Financial Commissioner Shaleen Kabra and Principal Secretary PWD Anil Kumar Singh to intervene urgently. “These are not private investments. These are labour wages, vendor dues, and supplier payments. Stalled disbursements are breaking the economic chain,” he said.

He also called for an immediate review and overhaul of the recent restructuring of the R\&B Department, terming it chaotic and unplanned. “New divisions have been announced without the necessary infrastructure, staffing, or office space. Engineers are holding multiple charges, making effective governance nearly impossible,” he noted, highlighting that the absence of regular postings and reliance on in-charge officials has led to administrative dysfunction.

Citing the structural model of departments like Irrigation, PHE, and KPDCL, he demanded the appointment of full-time Chief Engineers for both Kashmir and Jammu provinces. “This ad-hoc system is unsustainable. Former Chief Engineers have retired, and the vacuum is being filled with temporary arrangements, undermining both execution and accountability,” Purza added.

The JKCCC urged the JJM Committee to expedite submission of its report to the government so that delayed payments can be processed and essential development works resumed.

“The contractor community forms the backbone of J&K’s infrastructure sector. Without timely payments and functional departmental systems, we are heading toward a complete standstill,” Purza warned, urging immediate corrective action at the highest level.