KOCHI: Over 200 contractors of the Kochi Corporation, who have been on an indefinite strike since the first week of June in protest against the non-payment of arrears, will intensify the stir. The second round of negotiations held by Mayor Soumini Jain with the contractors' association representatives on Thursday failed to reach a consensus. The general body meeting of the association will be convened this week to discuss future plans.
Though the Mayor had promised to pay one month's bill dues as a temporary relief, the contractors rejected it. "The civic body owes a huge amount, nearly Rs 60 crore to contractors. Clearing one month's dues will not help us as most of the contractors have taken huge bank loans to carry out works. The civic authorities have indicated that after clearing one month's dues they will be able to clear the arrears only by next March," said a member of the association.
"Though there is a provision in the municipal rules that the civic body can float tenders for civil works only if they have sufficient funds, it is not being followed. The Corporation is inviting tenders for all works without having any plan how to fund it," alleged a contractor. Meanwhile, Mayor Soumini Jain said that June and July were the lowest revenue collection months for the civic body and therefore it could not clear the arrears. "Income is much lower than the expenditure now. When tax collection goes up in August, the Corporation has to give additional money as a festival allowance. So it won't be able to pay the bills. Considering the poor financial health of the civic body, the contractors are urged to cooperate and not to take a confrontational stance," she said.
