SHILLONG, MAR 16: With a staggering Rs 34792.30 lakhs yet to be paid to contractors in the state, opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator Paul Lyngdoh alleged that good number of contractors have refused to take up works with the Public Work Department (PWD).
“In a state like Meghalaya which is land-lock, roads are the only lifeline. Therefore, I stressed that there has to be attempts by the state government to clear the pending amount,” Lyngdoh told the assembly on Monday.
Raising supplementary question, Lyngdoh asked what the government would do if contractors refused to take up state government works.
Admitting it to be a fact, PWD minister Sniawbhalang Dhar informed that the department is proposing to enhance the budget allocation to be able to clear the pending amount at the earliest. Stating that the government is aware of the problem, he informed that the government is trying to mitigate the problem by trying to clear the pending dues.
“To assure is meaningless. The PWD is an important department and have big problems. As a responsible minister I will try to note down the points,” Dhar said when the Lyngdoh sought his assurance.
Earlier, Dhar informed that the cumulative net payment due to contractors for various works undertaken by them, is Rs 34792.30 lakhs. Terming the amount due to contractors as ‘staggering’, Lyngdoh suggested that the payment to contractors be made in phase manner.
Dhar, however, said there is no time frame for settling the pending bills as payment is made as per fund available.
On the steps taken to narrow the gap between the actual requirements and funds available at hand, Dhar informed certain measures has been proposed which include restriction in the sanctioning of new works and taking up maintenance work (except in emergency cases).- By Our Reporter
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