Karnataka Leaders Address Contractors' Payment Concerns Amid Protests

Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar assured protesting Karnataka State Contractors' Association (KSCA) members of facilitating a meeting with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. They demand the release of pending bills totaling Rs 16,000 crore. Shivakumar acknowledged the contractors' contributions and promised efforts to resolve the payment issue.

In a significant move to address concerns over pending payments, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar promised to facilitate a meeting between the Karnataka State Contractors' Association (KSCA) and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The KSCA members are staging protests at Bengaluru's Freedom Park to demand release of their withheld bills.

Speaking at the protest site, Shivakumar acknowledged the contractors' grievances and assured them of government support. He emphasized the contractors' role in helping bring the current government to power and expressed urgency in resolving the issue of pending payments, estimated at Rs 16,000 crore.

Shivakumar criticized previous administrations for awarding contracts without sufficient funds and advised against taking up work in financially constrained departments. He stressed the need for finding bonds worth Rs 50,000 crore to comprehensively address the problem.

(With inputs from agencies.)