Contractors in Una demand payment clearance by April 20

Contractors across Una district in Himachal Pradesh have expressed growing frustration over delayed payments from various government departments. Yesterday, all contractor unions in the district came together, issuing an ultimatum to the state government to clear their pending payments by April 20. If the government fails to meet this deadline, the contractors warned they would resort to protests and may halt all development work across the state.

The contractors also submitted a memorandum of their demands to the Una administration, citing delays in payment settlements. Traditionally, most contractors’ payments from government departments are cleared by March 31, marking the end of the financial year. However, this year, the government failed to clear payments even by this deadline, with delays now ranging from two months to over a year, according to the contractors.

The contractors have expressed concerns over the financial strain caused by these delays. Many contractors rely on loans from banks, often using bank limits to finance government projects. With payments now delayed for up to a year, they are being forced to pay interest on loans, which is cutting into their already slim profit margins.

Contractors working with the power, IPH and PWD departments in Una have joined forces to press the government for the immediate release of their payments. Sources suggest the delays are attributed to the financial difficulties being faced by the state government.

With their livelihoods at risk, the contractors are demanding immediate action to resolve the payment backlog or they would take to the streets in protest, further disrupting government projects across the region.