BBMP contractors stop work, go on indefinite protest; pothole filling, white-topping to be hit

BENGALURU: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) contractors have struck work from Monday in protest against the non-release of dues. They are demanding the release of the 25 per cent dues which have been withheld and said their protest will go on indefinitely till the funds are released.

The contractors also sat on protest in front of the BBMP office on Monday morning, holding placards. They say they have to borrow loans from banks and pay GST for the entire bill amount, while their dues remain uncleared.

With the contractors striking work, filling of potholes, white-topping of roads, lake development, road laying, clearing of rajakaluves and all other projects will come to a standstill. The civic body owes crores to each contractor and the contractors’ association is firm that no work will be taken up till the dues are cleared.

The BBMP contractors’ association president K T Manjunath told Public TV, “Contractors are in dire straits due to the negligence of the officials and political leaders. For the last one year, the BBMP is withholding 25 per cent of the bill amount for works done up to April 2021 and releasing the remaining”.

BBMP contractors’ association president K T Manjunath.

Earlier, the entire bill amount would be released. Though we are getting only 75 per cent, we have to pay GST for the full bill amount. This is just harassment of farmers without reason. We are not able to pay up our EMIs on bank loans or take up any other work. Hence, we have called for stoppage of work”, he said.

The contractors had earlier met Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also in charge of Bengaluru development, and BBMP Chief Commissioner Tushar Giri Nath seeking release of the 25 per cent of bill amount for works done up to April 2021 which has been withheld. The Deputy CM had assured that the dues will be cleared, but even after several months, it has not been done.