Mines Officials Obstructing HAM Road Works by Harassing Contractors: R&B Minister Komatireddy
The minister made these remarks during a review meeting with mines minister G. Vivek to discuss mining-related issues affecting road construction projects across the state.
Hyderabad: Roads and buildings minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on Friday accused the mines and geology department of obstructing road development works being executed under the hybrid annuity model (HAM) by harassing contractors with excessive penalties and procedural hurdles.
He said contractors undertaking government road projects required transit permits from the mines department to transport construction material such as sand, soil and metal, but officials were imposing penalties worth up to ten times the value of the material without valid reasons.
The minister made these remarks during a review meeting with mines minister G. Vivek to discuss mining-related issues affecting road construction projects across the state.
Venkat Reddy cited an instance where a contractor executing a road work worth Rs 5 crore was slapped with a penalty of Rs 54 crore He sought a green channel from the mines department for speedy approval of metal permits so that contractors are not subjected to unnecessary delays.
The minister also sought action against the official allegedly responsible for driving contractor Bandari Srinivas Reddy to suicide due to harassment.
Representatives of the Mining Contractors Association briefed the meeting on the problems its members, particularly small contractors engaged in road works, faced. They highlighted the imposition of huge penalties, difficulties in obtaining permits for quarry metal and the shortage of construction materials required for ongoing projects.
According to the minister, the 34 HAM road packages would require around 290 crore tonnes of metal, 352 crore cubic metres of soil and 5.53 crore cubic metres of sand.