Kashmir Contractors seek clearance of long-pending dues

Srinagar, Mar 20: The Jammu and Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCC) has raised serious concerns over non-payment of pending liabilities, revealing that Kashmir-based contractors are still awaiting payment of dues amounting to ₹250 crore.

In a statement issued today, JKCCC Chairman Ghulam Jeelani Purza urged the government to take immediate action to clear long-overdue payments, particularly those pending since 2014.

"The government appears indecisive on this issue. Despite repeated assurances, a significant portion of payments for works executed under previous governments remains unpaid," Purza stated.

He highlighted that many of these liabilities date back to previous administrations, including those led by Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, yet remain unresolved despite multiple verifications.

"We have all the allotment papers and various verifications have been conducted over time for these projects that remain unpaid. We had taken huge loans and now we are burdened with financial liabilities due to government inaction," he added.

The JKCCC also expressed concern about the delayed release of the fourth-quarter allocation from the current budget. "The government has so far released only three quarters of the allocated budget, while the fourth quarter remains withheld. With just a few days left in March, there is a high risk that these funds will lapse, just like crores of payments that lapsed last year," Purza warned.

Additionally, Purza criticized the government's inaction in filling crucial vacancies in the Public Works Department (PWD) and other engineering divisions, noting that more than 21 Superintending Engineer posts and multiple Executive Engineer positions remain vacant, severely impacting project execution.

The committee has appealed to J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Choudhary, and top financial and administrative secretaries to intervene.

"Contractors are the backbone of J&K's infrastructure development. If their dues are not cleared, it will not only halt ongoing projects but also discourage future investments. We need urgent action to prevent another financial setback," Purza emphasised.

The Contractors Coordination Committee has urged J&K legislators to take up this matter in the ongoing Assembly session to ensure these liabilities are addressed promptly.