Bengaluru: The members of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Contractors’ Association on Monday demanded the civic body to clear the pending bills amounting to around Rs 1900 crore.

Speaking with media persons here, M Ramesh, president, BBMP Contractors’ Association said the BBMP had not cleared the pending bills for the last 25 months thus making the contractors to run pillar to post to convince the authorities concerned to clear the pending bills as early as possible. “The financial condition of most of the contractors is not good. Many of us have become bankrupt due to the delay in clearing our pending bills by the BBMP. Many of us have taken loans from financial institutions and banks to complete the developmental works assigned to us. The delay in clearing pending bills made us to default payments to material suppliers and labourers,’’ Ramesh said.

It may be recalled that one of the contractors had committed suicide in May 2015 when the civic body failed to clear his pending bills. Later, the contractors had to stage dharna on the premises of BBMP Head Office.

According to G M Ravindra, general secretary, BBMP Contractors’ Association said the contractors had met BBMP Mayor G Padmavathi last month urging her to take measures to clear the pending bills in the interest of contractors but the Mayor assured the contractors to convene a meeting to discuss the issue of pending bills but nothing has been done till date. “We have complained to the Lokayukta last year but nothing has been done in this regard. Now, we have decided to intensify our agitation if the BMBP authorities fail to clear all pending bills in 15 days,’’ said Ravindra.

The BBMP contractors had staged protest over pending bills worth Rs 2,455 crore in May 2015.