Imphal, October 20: Demanding payment of their pending liabilities within this month, contractors currently engaged in the execution of sewerage project have threatened to cease the ongoing work from November in case their demand is not met by the deadline set.

Speaking to reporters today, contractors engaged in the sewerage project informed that other than a meagre amount released in March this year, huge liabilities due to the contractors have not been paid for the last many months.

With all available resources running out, the contractors are faced with a precarious situation where they are compelled to suspend ongoing project works.

For the inconveniences to the commuters and general public and traffic problems that may be caused by suspension of work, the State Government and the authority concerned should be held responsible, they asserted.

According to the contractors, till March this year, Rs 5 crores was sanctioned for different works of the project.

But only Rs 3 crores were distributed to the contractors, while the remaining Rs 3 crores have been misappropriated in the most unscrupulous manner.

As per the guidelines of the project, due liabilities should be released every three months.

However, failure of the authority to release due amount, even as required fund for the project has already been sanctioned, is causing immense hardships to the contractors, they decried.

On investigation it has been learnt that the relevant officials have been unable to furnish proper account statement of the misappropriated amount of Rs 2 crores.

In addition, failure of the Executive Engineer concerned to discharge his duties in time thereby delaying necessary file process has been largely responsible for inability to pay due liabilities, asserted the contractors.

Dereliction and incompetence of engineers concerned have been jeopardising the project though it was considered a boon when it was first conceptualised.

They demanded that the Executive Engineer concerned be transferred away somewhere else to bring in another one who is sincere and competent.

The contractors also conveyed amazement at PHED depositing Rs 5 crores at PWD which is entrusted to level and black top portions of the road dug out and filled up after laying sewerage pipes while the contractors engaged in primary line have not been paid their due liabilities since March this year.

Because of the failure of the PHED to provide the required quantity of necessary materials, the contractors are using their own money to procure the necessary materials even as they are badly indebted.

Had the misappropriated amount of Rs 2 crores been used to procure and stock necessary materials, the would have been not only a great relief to the contractors but would also help accelerate the ongoing work, the contractors lamented.

Under such non-conducive conditions, the contractors will be constrained to suspend work being undertaken along different major roads of Imphal city if the current EE of PHED Sewerage Division is not replaced by a sincere and competent one and the due liabilities of Rs 10 crores are not paid to the contractors within this month, cautioned the contractors.

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