Bengaluru: The contractors have started to worry about the Government’s guarantee schemes and the Bengaluru Contractors’ Association has given a deadline to BBMP to clear the pending bill of Rs. 2500 Crore by June 5. If the bill is not cleared, they have warned the Corporation that all the works under its jurisdiction will be suspended.In a bold move, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Contractors’ Association has escalated the pressure on the State Government, demanding the immediate resolution. This development unfolds against the backdrop of the Congress-led government’s struggle to fulfil the freebies outlined in their election manifesto. The Contractors’ Association asserts that they have not received payments since May 2021.
If the Government’s treasury is empty from the five guarantee scheme, there is concern that the outstanding dues will not be cleared. Therefore, the Bangalore Contractors’ Association has warned corporation that if the money is not cleared by June 5, it will stop all its work in Bangalore. In this regard, the Bangalore Contractors’ Association has requested the BBMP Commissioner to clear the pending bill. Now a new tension has started for the corporation due to the dead line of the contractors. Taking their concerns directly to the BBMP Commissioner, the Association presented a memorandum urging swift action to clear the outstanding bills.
The Government has moved to mobilise funds for the implementation of five guarantees, including Annabhagya, and Gruhalakshmi.
Thousands of crores of rupees outstanding dues are pending, now contractors are in tension whether they will get it on time or not. Therefore, the fight of contractors has started in BBMP to pay the outstanding amount.
As soon as the Congress Government came to power, they had put a brake on the work and payment of bills of previous Government. Therefore, the payment for the work completed under the corporation’s grant has been withheld. About two thousand crore bills for the last two years are pending. At present, an excess bill payment of Rs. 2400 Crore under BBMP has to be cleared.
On May 26, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had ordered officials to stop the projects launched under the BJP regime. This has led to further delay in payment of already completed works, much to the displeasure of the contractors’ association.
The Association, comprising about 1,000 contractors, seeks fair compensation for completed projects and resolution to their grievances.
As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah chairs an awaited Cabinet meeting, significant decisions regarding the five freebies are expected to be made.
While it appears that the Congress has halted the projects to conjure up revenue to implement freebies, the resolution of this standoff between the BBMP Contractors’ Association and the Karnataka government hangs in the balance, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Nonetheless, it is undeniably crucial to swiftly address the situation and restore harmony to ensure the uninterrupted progress of ongoing projects in Bengaluru. The upcoming Cabinet meeting will play a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of the pending bills and ultimately determine the impact on the region’s construction industry.
(Inputs by Rajath R.)