Bengaluru: The Karnataka Contractors’ Association is expressing grave concerns about the perceived bias in settling outstanding bills and is issuing a statewide protest threat if at least 50 percent of these invoices are not addressed within the coming month. Members of the association are frustrated with the delay in clearing bills, alleging that the government is displaying favoritism towards specific contractors.
In a recent press conference, the President of the Karnataka State Contractors’ Association, D. Kempanna, has accused the state government of unfair treatment in handling overdue payments. Kempanna stressed the urgent need for the government to disburse at least half of the outstanding bills within a 30-day period and warned of a state-wide demonstration if this demand is not met.
Kempanna, along with his fellow association members, has called on the state government to allocate funds based on seniority. He lamented, “We have approached the Chief Minister on four occasions, urging him to release our funds, but the process remains inefficient.”
Despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s initial commitment to prioritize payments based on seniority, Kempanna argues that only a select few contractors are receiving their payments. When questioned, government officials maintain that they are following established orders.
Kempanna clarified that the association is not making allegations of corruption or “commission” against the government. Nevertheless, the delayed release of funds has placed considerable strain on contractors. Several contractors are experiencing financial losses, with some facing dire circumstances.
Regrettably, there have been instances of extreme distress, including a contractor’s suicide in Hubballi and another’s suicide attempt in Belagavi by consuming poison. Many contractors have had their accounts frozen due to unpaid loans, prompting some to leave their home villages in an effort to evade creditors.
In addition to delayed payments, the Contractors’ Association is voicing concerns about the government’s decision to award major contracts to out-of-state contractors, such as those from Andhra Pradesh, instead of supporting local contractors. Kempanna has indicated that the association plans to address these grievances through formal communications to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.