Srinagar: Hundreds of contractors from across Jammu and Kashmir staged a peaceful protest at the Engineering Complex in Rajbagh, Srinagar on Wednesday, demanding immediate release of over ₹1000 crore in pending payments under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). The protest was led by the Jammu and Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCC) Chairman, Ghulam Jeelani Purza, who urged the government to clear the dues ahead of Eid-ul-Adha.
Speaking at the protest, Purza said that contractors across J&K had fulfilled their responsibilities by laying pipelines, building pump sheds, and ensuring water supply to households under the ambitious JJM initiative. However, payments for their work have been withheld since September 2024, putting immense financial pressure on contractors and those who depend on the sector for their livelihood.
“This delay affects not just contractors but also laborers, suppliers, transporters, and mechanics whose families are suffering,” Purza said. “If the government fails to release these payments before Eid, we will have no option but to halt all JJM works across the Valley.”
He added that while payments were timely during the Governor-led administration, delays have worsened under the current elected government, creating what he described as a “serious financial crisis” for the contractor community.
District contractor bodies echo concern, threaten work stoppage
The protest also witnessed participation from district-level contractor associations, who voiced their frustration at the prolonged delay in payment.
Naseer Mir, President of the Bandipora Contractors Association, stated that many contractors have been forced to mortgage property and take loans to sustain operations, and are now facing humiliation due to unpaid dues. “The government has pushed us to the edge. This is a fight for financial justice,” he said.
Hilal Farooq, President of the Kupwara Contractors Association, said the timing of the crisis ahead of Eid-ul-Adha was particularly painful. “Our families should be preparing for celebration, not protesting in the streets. This is not just financial negligence — it’s moral injustice,” he added.
Leaders from other districts including Mohammad Younis Bhat (Budgam) and Nazir Ahmad (Charar-e-Sharif) also expressed solidarity with the JKCCC’s demands and warned that all works under JJM and Public Health Engineering (PHE) schemes could be suspended after Eid if the issue remains unresolved.
Appeal to top leadership for urgent intervention
The JKCCC has made a direct appeal to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Jal Shakti Minister Javaid Rana, other cabinet members, and the Chief Secretary of J&K to personally intervene and ensure immediate disbursal of the long-pending payments.
The contractors warned that without urgent financial relief, critical water supply projects and ongoing development under JJM could face indefinite suspension, impacting service delivery across both urban and rural areas of Jammu and Kashmir.
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