Madikeri: Contractors undertaking City Municipal Council (CMC) works threatened to stop all pending works if the CMC does not stop harassing them over PF issue.

It may be recalled that a romping Rs 97 lakh was taken away from the CMC accounts by the PF authorities for non-payment of PF amount since 2011.

The incident had taken the CMC General Body meeting by storm as the members of the CMC and the President alleged that the Municipal Commissioner had hidden the incident from them and had then tried to collect the lost Rs 97 lac from the CMC contractors. They said that the Commissioner had also made a failed clandestine effort to get stay order in the PFC authorities’ move.

However, now the CMC contractors have said that they are unnecessarily being targeted by the CMC and the same has created rift between the CMC and the contractors. They say that the CMC is pressuring them to pay the PF amount dues which in turn have led to unrest.

The irritated contractors are alleging the CMC of not having cleared their bills for the projects that have been completed and they further say that if the CMC continues to pressurise or harass them, they would leave ongoing projects of the CMC half way through.

Justifying their action, CMC Contractors’ Association President BY Rajesh said that the CMC is mounting pressure on 32 contractors to cough up dues. According to him any contractor employing more than 20 labourers /workers and if the said laborer works under the contractor for more than 240 days in a year, then only the contractor is liable to pay the PF amount to the department. Contractors who carry out piece works of CMC do not fall under this ambit. Even if there is violation on the part of contractors it is the state labor department which will look into the issue and hence it does not come under the purview of CMC commissioner. But the commissioner who served notice says she has issued notices based on the order from the labour department without any proof and mounting pressure on the contractors which has put them in a big fix. The notice issued by the City Municipal Commissioner to pay 5 year dues is unlawful, he said.

Sharpening the attack on CMC, Ravikumar, another contractor, expressing his displeasure over the entire issue said, the contractors might resort to suicide and CMC will be responsible for all actions.

Contractors completed the first phase of works of small and medium projects for which funds were allotted from the Chief Minister’s grants within 6 months. For the 2nd phase, global tenders were called and the works are yet to be completed, though 4 years have gone by. Considering the above, the 3rd phase works must be handed over to the local contractors, Ravikumar urged.

Mohamamd Khaleel, Salim, Fayaz and Dharmaraj were among the members present during the press meet.