The Manipur Hills and Plain Contractors’ Association (MHPCA) has welcomed the assurance provided by the works minister that the pending bills for 2020-21 will be issued from April first week. It, however, warned that the association was ready to launch intensified agitations if the bills are not sanctioned.
Joint secretary MHPCA M Sharat Singh said that the revised estimate for 2020-21 budget for PWD is Rs 190 crore but due to the outbreak of COVID-19 it has been reduced to Rs 90 crore.
He was speaking in a press conference held at its office located at the Public Works Department campus, Imphal on Monday.
It is not appropriate to deduct the budget for the department which has been involved in bringing development for the state in terms of construction of roads, government offices, buildings and others, he said.
The association welcomed the assurance made by the works minister that the pending bills for the contractors will be sanctioned from 1st week of April, he asserted.
Singh further said for 2021-22 annual budgets it is found to be improper with the liability. For some other unimportant government departments, multi-crores are added in annual budgets. Deducting the budget for PWD has been unfortunate, ne added.