Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Mar 5: The J&K Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCC) today urged the administration to release long-pending payments amounting to Rs 450 crore to contractors working under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) and other projects.
The JKCCC highlighted the severe financial crisis faced by local contractors due to non-payment for the past two years, despite timely completion of work.
Committee Chairman Ghulam Jeelani Purza expressed disappointment over the administration’s failure to honor its commitments.
“The Government announced an expenditure of Rs 10,000 crore under the Jal Jeevan Mission in Jammu & Kashmir. Initially, tenders were floated in a way that made it difficult for local contractors to qualify,” he said.
However, he added, the Government later encouraged their participation.
“We actively took part and completed the projects on time. J&K contractors have executed work worth Rs 1,500 crore under JJM and successfully completed 15 major projects. Unfortunately, despite assurances, our payments remain stuck, causing severe distress,” he stated.
Purza further lamented that over Rs 400 crore owed to J&K contractors remains unpaid.
“This delay is unjustified and has pushed contractors into a financial crisis. With the holy month of Ramadan ongoing, many are struggling due to lack of funds,” he said.
He also pointed to alleged discrimination against Kashmir-based contractors compared to their counterparts in Jammu.
“Before 2019, funds for these schemes were readily available. Now, despite the Government’s claims of financial allocations, payments worth Rs 250 crore for Kashmir-based contractors remain pending.”
JKCCC Senior Executive Member Amin Raina raised concerns about the functioning of the Roads and Buildings (R&B) Department, citing an acute shortage of technical staff and Superintending Engineers (SEs).
“Several key positions remain vacant. Instead of fresh recruitment, existing officials are being assigned additional responsibilities, leading to severe administrative backlogs,” he said.
He added that development projects across J&K are suffering due to this negligence.
“The lack of technical oversight is causing unnecessary delays, and several major projects remain stalled,” he said.
The JKCCC has called on authorities to address these critical issues without delay to ensure the smooth execution of developmental projects and protect the interests of local contractors who have played a vital role in the region’s progress.
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