SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCC) has urged the government to take urgent measures to revive stalled developmental works, warning that projects worth thousands of crores remain paralysed due to the ongoing ban on the extraction of raw materials and delays in contractor payments.
In a statement, JKCCC Chairman Ghulam Jeelani Purza said that despite the sanctioning of projects worth over Rs 10,000 crore under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Rs 4,000 crore under PMGSY, and several major urban development schemes, work across Jammu and Kashmir has nearly ground to a halt. He blamed the administration’s restrictions on mining and extraction of essential raw materials such as sand, gravel and aggregates.
“How can we complete projects on time when all sources of raw material are sealed? Material doesn’t fall from the sky; it comes from mining. We are not demanding illegal extraction, we are demanding legalised and regulated sources so that development targets can be met,” Purza said, adding that local contractors were being unfairly threatened with blacklisting over delays.
He alleged discriminatory treatment against local contractors, pointing to the ongoing Ring Road project being executed by an outside agency. “The government is fully facilitating outside firms with access to thousands of truckloads of material and even altering watercourses for them. If outside companies can get uninterrupted supplies, why are J&K’s own contractors treated like stepchildren?” he asked.
Highlighting the financial strain on the construction sector, Purza said treasury payments that once took three to four days are now delayed by two to three months. “Our treasuries are empty. Contractors are being crushed between rising costs and delayed payments. The government must prioritise the timely release of bills instead of indulging in political distractions,” he remarked.
Purza further said that liabilities from previous works remain unpaid despite partial clearances. “While over Rs 200 crore has been released, a significant portion of dues dating back to 2014 is still pending. We worked for this very government, yet our payments are stuck,” he said.
Calling for immediate intervention, the JKCCC appealed to the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and ministers of Mining, R&B and Finance to lift the ban on mining and legalise raw material sources, ensure timely release of payments, clear all pending liabilities and extend equal treatment to local contractors as outside agencies.
“This is not a political issue; it is about the very survival of development in Jammu and Kashmir. Without access to legal raw materials, timely payments and genuine government support, projects worth thousands of crores will remain unfinished,” Purza warned.
