<p>In view of the staggering sum that eight departments, including the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), owe private contractors across Karnataka – Rs 32,000 crore – the state government is contemplating a one-time settlement plan to solve the problem in a single shot.</p>.<p>Karnataka State Contractors’ Association president R Manjunath, who held a discussion on pending bills with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday in Bengaluru, sounded an optimistic note after his meeting.</p>.<p>Admitting that it may take three to four months for the scheme to take shape fully, Manjunath added, “We need to have discussions with CM Siddaramaiah, but this could be a historic moment for us.”</p>.<p>Manjunath said small- and medium-scale private contractors had suffered the most owing to the delay in payments.</p>.<p>“Some of them have been waiting for two years. The Deputy CM directed officials to settle bills under Rs 2 crore on priority, and asked them to disburse funds based on seniority,” he added.</p>.BBMP races to cover 24 lakh households for Caste Census in six days.<p>Manjunath lavished praise on Shivakumar, stating that the latter had been ‘most responsive’ to the demands of the association members. “The Deputy CM has assured us that all dues would be cleared within three to four months,” said the contractors’ association president.</p>.<p>The association members also drew Shivakumar’s attention to technical problems plaguing the tender process.</p>.<p>‘BBMP yet to settle 2023 bills’</p>.<p>Admitting that the BBMP had adopted a hassle-free process for clearance of bills, BBMP Contractors’ Association president G M Nandakumar, however, took issue with the civic body’s failure to clear all bills since 2023. “The Deputy CM has assured us that consultations will be held with senior officials, including the BBMP chief, and the issue resolved soon. Shivakumar said that all bills will be settled based on seniority,” Nandakumar said.</p>.<p>Commission for contracts?</p>.<p>When the contractors informed Shivakumar about instances of officials demanding commission for awarding contracts, the Deputy CM said he was ignorant of such practices. Manjunath, however, expressed confidence of the state government taking the issue seriously and nipping corruption in the bud.</p>
<p>In view of the staggering sum that eight departments, including the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), owe private contractors across Karnataka – Rs 32,000 crore – the state government is contemplating a one-time settlement plan to solve the problem in a single shot.</p>.<p>Karnataka State Contractors’ Association president R Manjunath, who held a discussion on pending bills with Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday in Bengaluru, sounded an optimistic note after his meeting.</p>.<p>Admitting that it may take three to four months for the scheme to take shape fully, Manjunath added, “We need to have discussions with CM Siddaramaiah, but this could be a historic moment for us.”</p>.<p>Manjunath said small- and medium-scale private contractors had suffered the most owing to the delay in payments.</p>.<p>“Some of them have been waiting for two years. The Deputy CM directed officials to settle bills under Rs 2 crore on priority, and asked them to disburse funds based on seniority,” he added.</p>.BBMP races to cover 24 lakh households for Caste Census in six days.<p>Manjunath lavished praise on Shivakumar, stating that the latter had been ‘most responsive’ to the demands of the association members. “The Deputy CM has assured us that all dues would be cleared within three to four months,” said the contractors’ association president.</p>.<p>The association members also drew Shivakumar’s attention to technical problems plaguing the tender process.</p>.<p>‘BBMP yet to settle 2023 bills’</p>.<p>Admitting that the BBMP had adopted a hassle-free process for clearance of bills, BBMP Contractors’ Association president G M Nandakumar, however, took issue with the civic body’s failure to clear all bills since 2023. “The Deputy CM has assured us that consultations will be held with senior officials, including the BBMP chief, and the issue resolved soon. Shivakumar said that all bills will be settled based on seniority,” Nandakumar said.</p>.<p>Commission for contracts?</p>.<p>When the contractors informed Shivakumar about instances of officials demanding commission for awarding contracts, the Deputy CM said he was ignorant of such practices. Manjunath, however, expressed confidence of the state government taking the issue seriously and nipping corruption in the bud.</p>
