Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 16
The Nagaland Contractors’ & Suppliers’ Union (NCSU) today expressed its strong resentment over the manner in which the state government has been handling the matter relating to the pending bills of the NCSU. “In fact, the NCSU is shocked to have come across the cabinet decision of 10th July 2012 that “the pending bills of the NCSU will be verified and probe by constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nagaland Vigilance Commission,” the NCSU said.
It stated that the contention of the state government terming the pending bills of NCSU as “NCSU claims” is an insult and misleading because of the fact that the pending bills of NCSU have been duly certified by technical Engineers after execution of works and all formalities observed and part-payment has been already made against the bills and the remaining are kept pending till date.
The NCSU made it stand “very clear” that the NCSU is asking payment for genuine pending bills and it is never “a claim”. In this, the NCSU strongly rejected the state cabinet decision of 10th July 2012 in toto.
It may be recalled that the NCSU had, on the occasion of its 37th Anniversary held on 10th February 2012 at Kohima submitted a representation to Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio who was the Chief Guest demanding the release of pending bills in favour of NCSU members and he endorsed the same representation to the Minister in charge for Road & Bridges & National Highways, G.Kaito Aye who was also present on the occasion as the Guest of Honour.
The NCSU members have been patiently waiting for the release of payment against their due share since then, it said. It stated that “accordingly, on 17th March 2012, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly during the last budget session had passed in the floor house an amount of Rs 39.83 Crores earmarked for payment to the contractors for clearing up pending dues under R&B department.”
NCSU President Pele Khezhie and General Secretary John Kath said that in view of the negative response of the state government with regard to the pending bills of NCSU members, a general meeting of NCSU has been convened on July 18 at its Head Office Kohima at 11.00 AM to take necessary decisions for further course of action.
