The BBMP contractors’ demand for early release of pending dues grew shriller on Friday when they gathered outside the Council Hall to stage a demonstration in the wake of the recent suicide by fellow contractor, Girish.
Claiming that the suicide of Girish, who had taken up several projects with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), was on account of financial stress that several contractors were facing after incurring huge debts, contractors’ association president R.J. Srinivas urged the civic body to release their pending dues of about Rs. 1,600 crore at the earliest. “Most of our contractors are under debt as the BBMP has not paid them for nearly 16 months,” he said.
The association threatened to stop work from Monday if the authorities do not release the amount.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sathyanarayana announced a compensation of Rs. 20 lakh for the family of Girish, which he said would be useful for the education for his children. He also assured the contractors that the civic body would release pending dues of two months by Wednesday.
