Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 9: Contractors in the Handwara area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district raised alarms today over severe delays in the release of pending payments, citing an alleged drying up of funds at the local treasury.
Contractors working with departments like Roads and Buildings, Jal Shakti, and others complain that payments for completed projects have been stalled for months, with officials citing insufficient funds. Similarly, retirees are facing delays of over six months in receiving post-retirement benefits. “Bills are not being cleared on time. For the last two months, not a single bill has been processed, which is unfortunate. Whenever we ask about the delay, they cite unavailability of funds,” said one contractor.
Another contractor added, “We completed our projects on time, adhering to all government norms. However, our payments have been pending for months. How are we supposed to sustain our families and pay workers without being paid?”
Jammu and Kashmir People’s Conference (JKPC) chief Sajad Lone expressed grave concern over the financial crisis in Kupwara. In a statement, Lone highlighted the plight of contractors, laborers, and traders in the district, describing the financial distress as severe compared to other districts. “This chronic financial mismanagement is causing unimaginable hardships. Thousands of contractors, workers, and traders are suffering due to unpaid bills within the supply chain,” Lone stated. He criticized the administration for its lack of accountability, labeling it an “address-less government.” He urged the Chief Minister and concerned authorities to release funds immediately to address the crisis.
Contractors warn that continued payment delays could disrupt ongoing and future projects, hindering development in the region. “We appeal to the Lieutenant Governor and the Finance Department to intervene. If payments are not released soon, many of us will be forced to halt work on government projects,” they said.
The treasury officer Handwara, Abdul Rasheed Bhat, acknowledged the scarcity of funds but clarified that the issue extends beyond Handwara to other treasuries in the region. “Pending bills of contractors have accumulated over the past month, while other payments like salaries are being cleared systematically,” he said.
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