BBMP contractors stage protest to demand clearance of bills since 2020

BENGALURU: The contractors of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMO) on Monday stopped all work and staged protest in front of the Palike headquarters over non-clearance of mills on Monday. Later in the evening, they called off their indefinite protest after assurances from the civic body.

Contractors staged protest in front of the BBMP, shouted slogans at the BBMP commissioner.

The contractors have put forth three major demands — centralising the billing system, timely payments and early release of all dues. If these demands are not met, they have threatened to stop all ongoing work and launch a massive protest, said Contractors’ association president Ambikapathi.

Earlier in the day, the contractors said they were forced to resort to protest as the BBMP Chief Commissioner was not responding to their demands. The protesters shouted slogans against the BBMP for not clearing their bills. The contract are engaged in wastage disposal, white-topping, electrical and storm-water drain works.

The contractors said that going by the Chief Commissioner’s response, he did not seem ready to hear out their problems. “Hence, we have stopped all work. The contractors’ association president Ambikapathi said, “If we stop construction works, it will affect every MLA and then it will resonate in the Vidhana Saudha and we will see results”.

Responding to a question regarding the BBMP contractors’ protest, Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath said, “We have cleared their bills till November 2020 and bills from December 2020 are pending for payment. We have taken up a revenue collection drive and collected Rs 37 crore so far. We will collect Rs 100 crore by this week and the contractors need not panic. The dues run up to around Rs 100 crore to Rs 150 crore and we will make the payments as per procedure. We have called new tenders now and if the contractors feel it difficult, they need not participate in the tender process. The participation of contractors has come down by 20-25 per cent, but theywere aware of the situation and are still working with us”.

The BBMP chief said they have adopted a new tendering process and claimed that it is working well.