Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Apr 26: Police today foiled J&K Central Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCCC) march and detained dozens of them here after they were protesting against the Government for its failure to release their long pending bills.
The contractors were planning to move towards the Sadar Treasury here and lock its main gate, but police swung into action and foiled their march. The protesting contractors said that bills worth Rs 900 crore have been pending with the various departments since the start of the current financial year.
They alleged that the Government was doing sheer injustice with them as due to the pending amount, the developmental works across Kashmir valley have been badly affected. “Our bills worth Rs 900 crore are pending with Government departments which are not released for unknown reasons,” said Farooq Ahmad Dar, general secretary JKCCCC.
The protesting contractors were holding placards reading ‘release our dues, we want justice.’ The contractors said: “We appeal the Government to clear the bills worth crores of rupees pending in various works divisions and treasuries forthwith.”
The agitating contractors also threatened to come on roads and forcibly lock all the treasuries if their payment was not released. “Government is leaving us with no option but to come on road and take harsh steps” Dar said.
Dar threatened to launch 36 hours hunger strike from May 3 if the Government continued to turn a blind eye towards the problem and fail to clear the bills.
“The hunger strike call has been given to press for release of pending bills worth Rs 900 crore,” Dar said.
Accusing Government of being indifferent to their “genuine” demands JKCCCC today threatened to stop work on all developmental projects and boycott tenders.
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