Date:18/11/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/11/18/stories/2006111820150300.htm

Kerala - Kochi

Contractors demand clearance of dues

Staff Reporter

KOCHI : Government contractors in the State are on the warpath due to the inordinate delay in payment of dues and low amounts sanctioned for wages and materials. Addressing presspersons at the Ernakulam Press Club on Friday, president of the All Kerala Government Contractors' Association K.A. Abdulla said the Government owed over Rs.1,000 crore as dues to contractors.

"Many contractors who carried out works over two years ago are yet to get their dues. The result is that they have to pay heavy interest on the loans taken. It is noteworthy to mention that Lee Benseen, an official of a Malaysian firm committed suicide last week, unable to stand the delay in clearing dues for works carried out for the Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP)," he said.

He said that despite rate revision, contractors were being paid Rs.125 as remuneration for every worker and Rs.13 for a litre of kerosene. "Masons have to be paid over Rs.300 and kerosene costs Rs.32 per litre in the open market. While roads built under the KSTP project have 30 mm chipping carpet, only 20 mm carpet is laid over PWD roads. This affects their durability. But officials blame contractors for roads turning potholes. They now blame us for the KSTP project encountering problems," he said.