Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, MAY, 20
Contractors from Distt Udhampur, Doda, Kathua, Ramban & Kishtwar expressed their resentment against the existing administration of Housing and Urban Development Department especially Director Urban Local Bodies Jammu and Finance Department. While addressing a press conference, they said that the contractors are executing developmental works in different Municipal Councils/ Committees falling within the jurisdiction of Jammu Province. Recently during the last financial year i.e. 2018-19 as per Finance Department’s orders our payments has been lapsed and not disbursed to us, they added.
They further stated that it is very unfortunate that Govt. has elected the President and Presidents in all the municipal offices and issued orders to all Municipalities for preparation of Action Plan of developmental works in the last quarter of 2018-19 and earmarked Rs15.00 lacs for each Municipal Committee and Rs50.00 lacs for each Council. As per Govt. instructions the President of all Municipal Councils/ Committees has prepared the works plan and submitted to the Govt. in the last quarter for their execution during the FY 2018-19. Meanwhile, the Govt. has approved the works program under Additionality Grant and issued directions to executing agencies i.e. Executive Engineers for execution of works during the FY 2018-19 in the month of January 2019 after adopting all codal formalities as required under rules.
The Executive Engineer has allotted the works mostly during the month of January and February 2019, even few works were allotted during the month of March 2019 and contractors executed the works day and night. But it was very surprise that Finance Department has issued orders to cease / fix constraint to draw only 15% payment of the approved capex Budget 2018-19 resulting maximum funds approved under Additionality and other heads under state capex budget 2018-19 got lapsed and we suffered badly without any our fault, they told.
They further informed that that Rs744.153 lacs has been lapsed in the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies Jammu due to 15% drawal constraint fixed by the Govt. They further requested Governor of J&K state that kindly look into the matter personally and issue necessary directions to the concerning department for clear our work done liabilities and if their grievances will not redressed within 10 days they will come on road and start agitation in each and every municipalities and will not allow Executing Agencies to execute new works.
