Thiruvananthapuram Corp contractors on warpath, projects may be hit

Thiruvananthapuram: Many ambitious development projects including multi-level parking, She-lodge, road development of the City Corporation are likely to miss the March 31 deadline with the contractors threatening to stall all construction activities if the funds are not released immediately.

With the treasury ban in effect, bills worth Rs 45 crores submitted by the civic body are pending. Many contractors are on a protest path threatening to stall the projects. With situation going out of hands, Mayor V.K. Prasanth has convened a meeting with the contractors association to urge them to continue the work.  This has come us a huge setback for the LDF-led ruling front, who are busy launching new projects ahead of the upcoming elections. "Most of the Corporation contractors are small time and take loans to do the work. Normally plan fund works have the minimum guarantee as the bills normally get cleared without much delay. This year most of the bills submitted two months back are yet to get cleared by the Treasury," said Anil Kalady, general secretary of the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Contractors Union. He said that the contractors have no other way but to stall the projects until the bills are cleared.

"Election declaration has come and we will put more pressure on the authorities so that the funds are released. We are unable to get funds from other sources. Since the demonetization, nobody is interested in rolling funds they have. . As per the current norms, the manager is responsible for every loan they give. They are finding excuses to reject our loan applications," said Mr Anil.