2 hrs ago
Bhopal Contractors Protest Over Pending Jal Nigam Dues
Contractors who worked on the Single Village Scheme protested in Bhopal.
They said they had not received payments for bills submitted since June.
The unpaid bills were causing them money problems.
The contractors protested outside an office of the Jal Nigam.
Reports said a disagreement between two officials may have slowed the files.
Senior officials spoke with the contractors and promised to address their demands.
Some security deposits and performance guarantees are expected to be paid within a month.
Officials also directed departments to process other payments and transfer completed schemes to local panchayats.
Single Village Scheme contractors held a dharna outside the Engineer-in-Chief’s office at Jal Bhawan in Bhopal on Wednesday.
The contractors said their bills had been pending since June, causing financial difficulties.
The delay was allegedly linked to differences between Additional Director Finance Anju Singh and Engineer-in-Chief Sanjay Andhawan.
Jal Nigam officials assured the contractors that their dues-related concerns would be resolved within a stipulated time.
Payments for eligible security deposits and performance guarantees from completed 2018–21 schemes are expected within one month after the Defect Liability Period ends.
- Who
- Single Village Scheme contractors and officials of the Jal Nigam Board, including Managing Director V S Chaudhary Kolsani.
- What
- Contractors staged a dharna demanding payment of pending bills and other dues.
- Where
- Outside the Engineer-in-Chief’s office at Jal Bhawan in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
- When
- Wednesday; officials said eligible payments would be made within the next month.
- Why
- The contractors said bills pending since June were causing financial problems; the delay was allegedly connected to internal differences between two officials.
Contractors’ Position
Jal Nigam Officials’ Position
Pending payments
Contractors’ Position
Contractors said bills pending since June had created financial difficulties and demanded immediate clearance of their dues.
Jal Nigam Officials’ Position
Officials assured the contractors that their dues-related issues would be resolved within a stipulated time.
Security deposits and guarantees
Contractors’ Position
Contractors sought clearance of payments connected with completed schemes, including security deposits and performance guarantees.
Jal Nigam Officials’ Position
Officials said payments for schemes whose Defect Liability Period had been completed successfully would be made within the next month.
Reason for delay
Contractors’ Position
The contractors’ account linked the stalled bills to alleged differences between Anju Singh and Sanjay Andhawan.
Jal Nigam Officials’ Position
The report noted that a show-cause notice had earlier been issued to Anju Singh, while officials said instructions had been issued to move payments and transfer completed schemes.
Key facts
- Protest location
- Engineer-in-Chief’s office, Jal Bhawan, Bhopal
- Protesting group
- Single Village Scheme contractors
- Pending bills
- Bills dating back to June
- Officials named in alleged dispute
- Additional Director Finance Anju Singh and Engineer-in-Chief Sanjay Andhawan
- Payment timeline
- Within one month for eligible completed schemes
- Applicable schemes
- Completed schemes from 2018–21 whose Defect Liability Period has ended successfully
- Additional instructions
- Process payments under other heads and transfer completed schemes to the concerned panchayats
Sources
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