PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) is facing mounting pressure from contractors over delayed payments, with many warning of protests and refusing to take part in any new tenders.
Some contractors working with the civic body said that their payments have been stuck for weeks even after completing work and finishing all paperwork.
A member of the Contractors association, Mukesh Sharma claimed that in several cases, bills have already been prepared, checked and cleared, but payments are still not coming through.
He said that contractors had taken up projects at rates 15 to 29 per cent below the estimated cost, but are now struggling to recover their dues. According to him, payments have been pending for nearly one and a half months, with the officials repeatedly saying that the money will be released soon.
Sharma said that around 100 to 125 files are currently stuck, with dues of roughly Rs 20 to 30 crore. Many of these files, he claimed, are at the final stage and only need OTP verification and signatures. “But things have not moved an inch for weeks,” he added.
The issue had also been taken up with the municipal commissioner, Namami Bansal in April, but to no avail. With things not moving, they have decided to boycott tenders and also warned that they would resort to agitation if the situation does not improve in the next few days. “We may stage a sit-in outside the municipal commissioner office,” one of the aggrieved contractors said.
Queried over the payment impasse, the mayor Saurabh Thapliyal said that they are looking into the matter. “The officials have been asked to review pending files and clear genuine payments as per procedure,” he added.
