KL Report
Srinagar
Scores of contractors from all the three regions of the State of Jammu and Kashmir Friday alleged that Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) that was assigned the contract of Mughal Road has left the Valley without releasing their hefty payment which amounts to Rs 7 Crores.
Contractors told CNS that HCC chose them as sub-contractors and they worked hard in the completion of Mughal Road. “Till 2011, HCC used to pay us after every month. Problem started in 2012, when HCC stopped releasing payment on the pretext that Government of Jammu and Kashmir owes Rs 25 Crores to the Company and they are waiting for the release of this huge amount,” they said.
“HCC kept us in dark. They shifted their machinery to Jammu without informing us and dismantled all the temporary sheds which they had erected at different points on Mughal Road,” the contractors said.
The contractors said that they were shocked to learn from the Chief Engineer Mughal Road, Bimal Tickoo that the Government owes meager amount to HCC and not Rs 25 Crores. “We fail to understand why HCC duped us and is reluctant to release our payment though Mughal Road proved a golden field for the company,” they said.
When contacted, Project Manager, HCC, Methew Marks told CNS that the company is very much here and it will stay here for more than one year even after the completion of Mughal Raod. “Once Government would release the payment in favour of HCC, we would certainly pay to these subcontractors. I can’t tell you how much money the Government owes to us, but certainly we would pay to contractors once the Government releases the payment,” he said.
