'Hiring non-local companies affects local contractors, labourers'
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, March 06 2023:
Water Resources Department Contractors' Association (WRDCA) said that hiring construction companies from other states for projects taken up by the department has severely affected the local contractors and labourers.
Taking serious note of the matter, the association organised a sit-in protest in front of PWD office, Khoyathong, here, on Monday drawing attention of the government.
Members of All Manipur Hill and Plain Contractors' Association (AMHPCA) also joined the protest, during which demand was raised to clear pending bills for different projects taken up by the state government.
Interacting with the media at the protest site, WRDCA sub-committee chairman Kshetrimayum Ra-jen pointed out that not awarding government projects to local contractors lead to deprivation of job opportunities to local labourers.
This is a common problem faced by the contractors and labourers alike, he said and added that the sit-in protest was organised to draw attention of the government towards this issue.
He also said that similar protest was organised by AMHPCA.
WRDCA publicity secretary Th Kumar said that the local contractors in the state are well equipped and capable of executing projects taken up by the department.
However, the department is awarding projects to companies from outside the state.
As a result, these companies bring labourers and machineries along with them.
This not only deprives job opportunities to local labourers and contractors but also severely affects the economy of the state, he pointed out, while drawing attention of the 60 MLAs and the state government to take up policies to ensure job availability for local contractors and labourers.