PWD contractors protest in Shopian, Sopore
Demand renewal of their cards, release of payments
Shopian/Sopore: Contractors associated with the Public Works Department on Tuesday staged protest outside R&B office in Shopian and Sopore in north Kashmir demanding immediate renewal of their contract cards.
The protesting contractors said that the department has asked to renew cards online only but most of the time their website isn’t working and the contractors have failed to submit the required information.
“We want to apply for new tenders but in absence of renewed cards the officials aren’t allowing us to do so,” they said, adding that despite working as contractors since decades they are being asked to complete additional formalities.
“Our payments of various works conducted since 2014 are also pending which must be released,” they said.
“Contractors have a right to demand their payment but unfortunately, the government is not paying any heed to our grievances,” they said.
“We are repeatedly brought this issue in notice of higher ups but to no avail,” they added further.
Meanwhile, scores of contractors from Sopore and Rafiabad also staged a protest demonstration over new norms regarding renewal of cards of contractors and also demanded release of pending bills.
The protest call was given by the Jammu and Kashmir Contractors coordination committee over new norms for renewal of cards, besides number of issues including clearance from the police.
Bashir Ahmed Sumji, one of the protesting contractors said that they won’t accept new norms and will protest any such move of government that is only aimed at delaying the renewal of cards of contractors and putting them in great distress.
He urged the authorities to withdraw such unnecessary requirements and immediately renew cards of contractors.
Another contractor Mohammad Aslam Bhat said that they have been left with no option but to come on roads to highlight their problems due to the non-seriousness of the authorities to release their pending bill.
Meanwhile, the protestors sought the intervention of LG Manoj Sinha into the matter.
Jahangeer Ganaie
