Bengaluru: The new government is barely 48 hours and the ministerial portfolios are yet to be decided, but in a shocking development, the Siddaramiah Government has issued a directive asking all departments, boards and corporations to cancel all works assigned in the state and hold up all payments.
In the letter issued by the Secretary of the Finance Department Dr. Ekroop Kaur dated May 22, 2023 bearing number AE 1 TFP 2023, Dr. Kaur stated that as per the directions of the Chief Minister, the circular to this effect has been issued. A copy of the letter has been sent to all department heads, treasury and commissioners of all departments. The letter further said that funding to all the works not completed and yet to be taken up come under the purview of the new order.
This order will have a cascading effect on the socio-economic and political life of the State as the money involved runs into thousands of crores of rupees which will affect those contractors who have taken up the work by funding them from their own sources. According to Government recognised Civil Contractors and Engineers Association there are already many thousands of works that have been assigned to the members of its association and the federation. They have invested in material purchase, stocking, labour and transportation and taking up surveys and footing other expenses, they added
There are already rumblings among the electrical contractor’s bodies, minor irrigation and many others.
The BJP is however giving a different colour to it stating that all the works that have been assigned to the Hindu contractors will be now cancelled and assigned to contractors in the minority communities. Many members of the lobby of contractors had funded the party for the elections and naturally, the party in power will be indebted to the contractors. The party had also given tickets to a few big contractors to contest in the elections the BJP leaders told Verito.Today.