THANE: Representatives of the Maharashtra State Contractors Association (MSCA) appealed to the govt to stop announcing big-ticket projects if the state treasury is unable to pay their dues accumulated over the last four years.
The appeal followed a protest staged by hundreds of association members and their staff outside the Thane collector office on Monday afternoon, urging the state to release their dues.
“We are not seeking alms or any grants from the state but want our rightful dues to be cleared. Some of us mortgaged our family belongings for survival. No one is helping us in these times of distress despite making numerous representations… We appeal to the state to first analyse if they have the adequate budget to complete the project before announcing it,” said Mangesh Awale of the MSCA.
The members also pointed out that the govt can’t afford to neglect the contractors who undertake several developmental works, especially at a time when the country is aiming to achieve a $5 trillion economy.
“The govt treasury anyway gets around 22-23% of our bill amount back through various taxes that we pay. Contractors are an integral part of the economy and nation-building, and we appeal to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to look at our plight and ensure our dues are released by the month-end,” echoed the assembled protestors.
KEY HIGHLIGHTS:
- Maharashtra State Contractors Association urged the government to stop announcing new projects if it cannot clear their pending dues from the last four years.
- Hundreds of contractors and staff protested outside the Thane collector office, demanding the release of their rightful payments.
- Contractors stated they had to mortgage family belongings to survive and urged the state to assess its budget before launching projects.
- Members highlighted that contractors play a crucial role in development, especially as India aims for a $5 trillion economy.
- Protestors appealed to CM Devendra Fadnavis to ensure dues are cleared by the end of the month.
