PWD contractors urge govt to clear pending bills

Urging the government to clear the pending bills of PWD contractors for rain relief and other works during 2019-20, office-bearers of the district PWD Contractors’ Association staged a protest in front of the DC’s office on Friday.

The protesters said that the contractors are facing hardships as the bills for the works they had carried out had not been cleared. They are unable to carry out emergency works now.

As a tax of 22% is being deducted on the bills, as per the government rules, the contractors will face more problems, they said.

Addressing the protesters, association district unit president Ravi Changappa said that a memorandum was submitted to the concerned authorities to pay 75% of the bills. But, there has been no response to the same.

Therefore, there is no other way than to stall all the works as a mark of protest, he said and urged the government to take immediate measures to release the amount in the ratio of 75:25.

Office-bearers of the district and the taluk PWD Contractors’ Association took part in the protest.