Dimapur, July 18 (MExN): The Nagaland Contractors’ & Suppliers’ Union (NCSU) has accused the Government of Nagaland of “twisting” the issue of pending bills and has responded by serving an ultimatum to the State, Wednesday. The union has given the government 20 days to revoke the Cabinet’s order and release the pending bills.
Earlier, the Cabinet had instated an investigation into the issue of ‘pending bills’ which the State earlier said needed “verification.” The union issued to the Media a copy of the letter addressed to the chief minister of Nagaland today.
The NCSU has rejected the Cabinet’s decision of July 10 and has demanded that the Cabinet revoke it. The union has given a 20-day time i.e., up to August 9 to the State government “to positively release our NCSU pending bills.”
In the event of failure to meet the demand within the stipulated time, the NCSU said, the organization will be compelled to take up agitation to redress the issue. According to the union, the Cabinet’s decision “has come to us a bolt from the blue.”
“This is because of the fact that the pending bills of NCSU members in PWD (R&B), Housing & PHED amounting to A35,83,68,952 crores have been duly certified by the competent technical engineers after execution of works and all formalities absorbed and payments have been made against the bills and the remaining are kept pending for payments till date,” the union stated. “Hence the question of verification by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Vigilance Commission does not arise. The whole fact is that, the NCSU has been asking for payment of their genuine pending bills.”
On March 17, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had “passed and amount of A39.83 crore to clear up the dues to the contractors & suppliers under R&B department,” the union said.
The Cabinet has “twisted the actual position of the pending bills” of NCSU members and “totally ignored the representation of NCSU,” the letter added.
