Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Mar 16: Former Works Minister and MLA Amirakadal Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari has urged the Governor NN Vohra to clear the liabilities of contractors who gave life to various macadamization programmes initiated by the late Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.
Mr Bukhari said though these programmes taken up under Cities & Towns, Tourist destinations and in Projectisation Mode were not included in State Plan but it was at the behest of the then State Government led by Mufti Mohd Sayeed that these programmes were launched.
“There is a huge liability pegged at around Rs 700 crore in PWD, and the contractors are not in a position to feed their families or liquidate their loans. liabilities of the contractors across valley have piled up and they are suffering unnecessarily,” Bukhari observed while appealing the Governor to address this problem.
The former minister said that in just a period of ten months, around 2000 Kms of road were macadamised under such programs adding that of late funds have become available but only for the works taken up with the help of NABARD.
He remarked that it was only after hectic persuasion by the then Government that contractors were roped in to revamp the shattered infrastructure especially the roads that were hit the worst by the devastating deluge in September 2014.
“Under permanent restoration programme R&B Department owes around Rs 1000 crore which includes over Rs 700 crore for black topping of more than 1400 kilometres roads across the valley and construction of pavements. The contractors who not only proved their mettle but also were lauded for their work by none other than the Late Chief Minister and the Governor at many occasions are suffering immensely,” Bukhari added.
The former minister appealed the Governor to release funds for clearing liabilities before the commencement of current financial year so that these contractors do not turn into bank defaulters.
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