Srinagar 11 March (KNO) : Expressing solidarity with the striking contractors who are on 36 hour long hunger strike in Pratap Park Srinagar, AIP Supremo and MLA Langate Er. Rasheed has appealed Govt. to clear the liabilities of contractors pending with various departments and also resolve their other grievances.
Er. Rasheed today joined the protesting contractors and assured them of his support. Speaking on the accession Er. Rasheed said “It is legal duty of the Govt. to release the amount of about 750 Crores to clear the long pending work done claims of the contractors.
While Govt. has every right to improve the functioning of departments but cannot give sermons of morality and accountability to contractors without resolving their genuine issues. The decisions regarding E-billing and other such related important directives issued by the Govt. could have been a conducive atmosphere. While the operating of internet and mobile services is always at the mercy of security forces the serious apprehensions of contractors cannot be overruled.
The Govt. before claiming to stream line the process of tendering and executing works must take a moral ground and clear all the pending liabilities with various departments”. Er. Rasheed added that while state Govt. has been making tall claims since last two years of getting eighty thousand crore package for the state from the centre, contractors and the general masses have a right to know why is there is so much of financial crunch on the ground and work on most of the developmental projects is at halt for the want of funds.
Er. Rasheed accused that on one hand local contractors who contribute much towards the economy of the state are forced to starvation but on the other hand Govt. is outsourcing all bigger projects and the rumors about throwing locals out of Sheikh-ul-Alam International Airport have started surfacing. Er. Rasheed on the occasion said that he has talked to state Govt. and the matter has been brought in the notice of Chief Minister for immediate and concrete redressal.(KNO)