Government contractors staged a dharna at the Chikkodi divisional office of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation section of the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj here on Monday seeking clearance of bills of Rs.45 crore pending for around two years. Rajendra Kondebettu, one of the contractors, said that there were nearly 300 contractors in the Chikkodi division who were involved in construction and repair works.
The government had not paid their bills fully. Some of the contractors had taken loans to execute works and were paying through their nose to repay the interest amount. He said that the office at Chikkodi had been neglected by the government and senior officials in the department. Though the department came into existence about two years ago, the government appointed an Executive Engineer (EE) in May when only 15 days were left for his retirement. Thereafter, instead of appointing a senior officer as in-charge EE, the EE of Belagavi division, Vijay Raikar, was given charge of the Chikkodi division. But, Mr. Raikar did not bother to look into contractors’ problems.
Mr. Raikar spoke to the contractors and said that around Rs. 48 crore was due to them, which could not be paid owing to technical reasons. However, he gave a written assurance to settle the dues within a week.
Executive Engineer of Chikkodi division in Belagavi promises to settle the dues
within a week
