Arunachal contractors demand modifications in legislation

A CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The All Arunachal Contractors Welfare Association (AACWA) on Tuesday urged Chief Minister Pema Khandu to immediately halt implementation of the 'Arunachal Pradesh District Based Entrepreneurs and Profession (Incentive Development and Promotion) (Amendment) Act-2020'.

Terming it as an "Anti-Contractors Act", the AACWA sought modifications in it; and requested the CM — who is also holds the PWD (Public Work Department) portfolio — to also consult members of the Association prior to bringing in the modifications in the Act.

Addressing media persons at the Press Club here, AACWA president Nabam Akin Hina said that if the CM fails to respond to their demand, the Association will take recourse to legal action against the proposed move to implement the mentioned Act.

"We want that each contractor is provided equal opportunity and rights. The Act should not be made in the line of political benefits and interest," he said, adding that the contractors have been paying the 'enlistment processing fee' which is also helping in generating revenue for the State exchequer.

He further said that though the AACWA has been repeatedly submitting memoranda to the State government seeking enhancement of the tender limit for the Class-V to Class-III contractors earlier yet nothing was done about the issue. The cost of works for the Class-V contractors should be enhanced up to Rs 1 crore, he added.

Hina also said that as per the valid enlistment contractors/firms under PWD, Arunachal Pradesh, there are many districts without Class-I contractors. The cost of work for above Rs 3 crore and up to Rs 20 crore should be allowed for the registered contractors in the Class-I category domiciled within the territorial jurisdiction of the respective district.

"It should be made open for the registered contractors of the State under the PWD. It is a clear violation of Arunachal Pradesh District Based Entrepreneurs Act 2015," he said, adding that AACWA will file RTI in this matter as to how work is awarded and executed at the district level.

Hina also claimed that though the work order system may be beneficial for the new entrepreneurs yet most of the time it will only benefit the person close to the people in power. He also said there should be proper rules and regulations as to whom and how work will be awarded, there should be a limitation on awarding the work, like a particular firm can work only in three projects, and the person should be a contractor.

"There will be no tender process up to Rs 50 Lakh work; so, the registered Class-IV and V contractors will be deprived of participating in any of the projects as the Central agencies never float such amount tenders," he added.

Alleging that there are loopholes in the cost of work and the eligibility criteria framed under the 'Arunachal Pradesh District Based Entrepreneurs and Profession (Incentive Development and Promotion) (Amendment) Act-2020, he said that the Act needs modification in the greater interest of young entrepreneurs and also various classes of contractors.

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