Mumbai: With the Maharashtra State Contractors Association (MSCA) and State Engineers Association getting no response from govt over their pending dues of close to Rs 1 lakh crore, contractors and engineers working on development projects across the state began their indefinite stop-work protest on Thursday.
A majority of the projects that would be affected are in public works department (PWD), rural development department, and Jan Jeevan Mission. The protesters claimed that govt is giving money for schemes like Ladki Bahin, but has not paid them since July 2024. The associations had recently written to the govt pointing out that it hasn’t cleared pending bills and urged that fresh contracts not be awarded unless there is enough budgetary provision.
“…Huge arrears have been pending since July 2024, and govt is not taking any action…Instead of addressing basic issues and developmental works, it distributes money to certain people for publicity. Not only are the four lakh contractors affected directly, but there are four crore people who depend on them…,” said MSCA president Milind Bhonsale.
“Dues pending with PWD are around Rs 46,000 crore, Jal Jeevan Mission Rs 18,000 crore, rural development department Rs 8,600 crore, water conservation department Rs 19,700 crore, and special fund under urban development department, DPDC, MLA and MP funds Rs 1,700 crore,” Bhonsale added.
