Kulgam, Aug 18, KNT: Contractors associated with the Jal Jeevan Mission staged a protest in Kulgam on Tuesday, demanding the release of around ₹80 crore in payments they said have remained pending for nearly two years despite completion of assigned works.
The protesting contractors said they had executed water supply projects on the directions of the government as part of the Jal Jeevan Mission, with the objective of ensuring potable water supply to people in the district.
They alleged that even after completing the works, their bills had not been cleared, leaving them under mounting financial pressure.
The contractors said they had arranged funds for executing the projects by taking loans from banks and borrowing from private lenders. Some claimed they were forced to sell family assets, including their wives’ gold, to meet the cost of construction.
“We fulfilled our responsibility and completed the work, but now we are under severe financial stress due to non-payment of our dues,” one of the protesting contractors said.
They said the prolonged delay in payments had made it increasingly difficult to repay bank loans and private debts, while also affecting their ability to meet household expenses and pay for their children’s education.
The contractors appealed to the Jammu and Kashmir Government and the concerned authorities to clear the pending payments, saying the release of around ₹80 crore would enable them to settle their financial liabilities and restore their businesses.
They warned that failure to address their demands could force them to intensify their agitation in the coming days. [KNT]
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