While the Ludhiana MC officers pushed the contractors to keep with the works, the contractors displayed helplessness in finishing the works without the bills of previous works. The contractors stated the MC had to pay over ₹70-crore to contractors and some contractors had additionally circulate courtroom to get better the pending price
With MLAs and councillors already mounting strain on fund-starved municipal business enterprise (MC) to take in development works and entire the long-pending projects ahead of municipal elections, the civic body and contractors at the moment are at loggerheads over the non-payment of dues.
A meeting was held among MC extra commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal and a group of contractors over the problem at MC Zone-A workplace on Wednesday.
While the civic frame officers driven the contractors to hold with the works, the contractors displayed helplessness in completing the works with out the payments of previous works. The contractors stated the MC needed to pay over ₹70-crore to contractors and some contractors had additionally flow court to get better the pending fee.
Contractors, including Tavinder Singh, Gurwinder Singh, Rakesh Sood, Ashok Sobti amongst others, stated the contractors are geared up to do the paintings, however now not with out fee of dues.
“The MC must begin paying dues in regular instalments and we will entire the projects. With municipal elections beforehand, the MC will waft tenders for taking up greater projects, however that can not be performed without funds. The civic body additionally has to pay over ₹10-crore, which become deposited with the department as securities for one-of-a-kind projects completed inside the beyond,” stated Tavinder Singh.
Councillors have additionally been elevating hue and cry over the pending initiatives and the problem became additionally highlighted at some stage in the meeting of MC General House held on October four. Councillors stated that during many areas, streets had been dug up by contractors, however the paintings to reconstruct the equal changed into pending for months now.
The MC extra commissioner stated a assembly changed into held to discover a solution. “Currently, the MC is dealing with fund crunch, but the scenario is anticipated to improve in the coming time. The MC will also launch charge of ₹10-12-crore to contractors within the coming few days and that they have been requested to finish the pending tasks. Steps are being made to make certain that residents do now not face trouble at ground-degree and tasks are finished with no further delay.,” he said.
Contractors additionally rue scarcity of crusher
The group of contractors also rued that one of the reasons in the back of the postpone in finishing the ongoing works is scarcity of crusher (gravel) across the state. They stated the shortage is being confronted due to mining restrictions in different elements of the kingdom. “The crusher which is being supplied from neighbouring states is high-priced, which increases the input value. Due to scarcity of crusher, the MC is also now not capable of soak up restore work of roads inside the metropolis,” they brought.