Srinagar,17-Feb;Joint Platform of Contractors has questioned the undue harassment of contractors and said that it would have a negative impact on construction and development. The Central Contractors Coordination Committee warned the Administration that if their demands were not met, they would have the option of boycotting the works.The Central Contractors Coordination Committee held a convention at the town hall Sumbal Bandipora and demanded payment of dues to the government.On the sidelines of the awareness program, Farooq Ahmed Dar, General Secretary, Coordination Committee, lamented that Administration is unduly delaying the funds of contractors under the guise of administrative contracts.“At present, the government has a debt of Rs 685 crore, and no efforts are being made to release it.It is not a sin to ask for money owed, and contractors have the right to demand it. Black laws are being imposed on the contractors, which has not only slowing down the pace of development work, but has became a tool to ruin the contractor”,Dar added.He said that renewal of contractors’ cards should be done immediately as it would delay the contractors from participating in the tendering process. He said that some bureaucrats were obstructing the construction work.“Lieutenant governor is in favour of development and construction in Jammu and Kashmir, but the bureaucrats are thwarting his program”,Dar added further. Dar warned the government that if their problems were not resolved, they had no choice but to boycott the construction work. During the ceremony, the newly elected president of the Contractors Union Sonawari Muhammad Altaf was sworn. Addressing the gathering, Haji Mushtaq Ahmed Paray, Vice President, Coordination Committee, emphasized the need for unity and consensus among the contractors and said that in these circumstances, the contractors should protect their honor and dignity. He said that the contractors are the ones who work hard to fulfill the public promises of the officers, bureaucrats and high officials.The meeting was attended by Javed Ahmed Zargar, ishfaq Ahmed Khan, Ghulam Rasool Mir, Umar Javed Khan, Haji Mohammad Yousuf Rishi, Abdul Aziz Pir Kupwara, Vice President Bandipora, Mohammad Rafiq Wani, Abdul Khaliq Yangura, Tariq Mushtaq Khan, Jalaluddin, Riaz Ahmed Bha, Bilal Ahmed, Mohammad Iqbal, Showkat Ahmed Jogi and other contractors also participated.(CNS)
