Contractors stage unique protest in Karwar

Karwar, Feb 23, 2021: Members of the Karwar Taluka Registered Contractor’s Association held a protest and sought Governor’s intervention in solving their problem.

The Contractors held a procession and held ‘Save Contractor’ protest in the beach. Later they submitted a memorandum to the Additional DC at Karwar.

“We are registered contractors. Day by day our problems are increasing and are unbearable now. Thus we decided to protest and bring the issue before the Governor. This is not just our story. The contractors of the entire state are facing similar problems,” Association president Madhav B Nayak told The Canara Post.

“Corruption exists in every stage. While contractors take money on loan and complete the contract work, they need to pay money to the ‘state level’ people to get their money released,” Madhav Nayak alleged.

The association submitted its demands to the Governor:

• The new Royalty rate fixed by the government should be included in the estimate. The old royalty should continue to the works which are in progress and which have already been issued and also which have completed tendering process.
• There should not be any delay in providing permits to supply construction materials like mud, sand, stone, M-Sand, and boulders. The government should also identify the quarries stone and soil quarries.
• As Uttara Kannada receives heavy rain, the contractors should be given time excluding the monsoon to complete the works.
• Immediate release of all the pending money for the contractors.
• Separate rate list for Coastal Karnataka districts/ Uttara Kannada.
• Fill the vacant post of engineers in the department.
• Stop the practice of bribe to get the bill money and LOC released.
• Stop inviting tender by including two or more works (package works).
• If a very low amount is quoted, then the contractor should not be burdened with difference amount. Only security deposit should be taken.
• Take steps to control the Petrol and Diesel price.