Contractors body demands clearing of pending bills

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

SILCHAR, Oct 4: Contractors’ Association, Irrigation, Cachar, ventilated their demand for release of outstanding bills against their executed works under Silchar division irrigation, Kakpur, by holding protest demonstration before the office of the irrigation department here on Monday. According to Awarul Islam Barbhuiya, president of the Association, all the works assigned to them under AIBP 2007 – 08 and 2008 – 09 have been completed, but a part of the payment is still pending. Besides, as he said, the works under AIBP for 2009 – 10 have almost been completed. But, only a partial amount has been paid to the contractors.

 The contractors in question were given their last payment in March 2015. More than a year has already elapsed, but the contractors have been kept on the tenterhook after that. Moreover, significant progress, claimed Sohanlal Patoa, vice-president of the Association, has also been made in respect of the schemes under AIBP 2013 – 14. Here also the story is not different. Contractors are yet to be paid any amount till date. In order to bring into focus these grievances in public and official circles, Contractors’ Association has been compelled to observe 3 hour long protest demonstration before the division office here.

 Pradip Kumar Paul, assistant secretary of the Association, has another point to hammer. Contractors are facing fincial hardship and other related problems for the maintence of their family. Since the Association and the contractors under it have extended all support and cooperation in executing the schemes and projects of irrigation, fervent appeal has been sent to the Secretary, Government of Assam, Irrigation Department, Dispur, for favourably consider their demand. He at the same time has cautioned if their payments are not made within a month, the Association will go for democratic methods to agitate in favour of their campaign for releasing the money against their works completed.