Sub-contractors stare at prospects of huge losses
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 10 2023:
Amid the present tension between communities, Meiteis contractors who worked as sub-contractors (unregistered) in the hills under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) are staring at an imminent loss worth crores of rupees, said sources familiar with the scheme.
While they can't be legally called "sub-contractors", these Meitei contractors conventionally worked under hill based contractors.
The source said, work contracts under the PMGSY, under Manipur Government's Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, are mostly given to hill based contractors, and Meitei contractors worked under them following mutual agreement between them.
When a bill for a work is released, the money is credited to the account of the actual contractor.
Now, Meitei contractors who worked under them in Kuki dominated areas like Churachandpur, Tengnoupal and Kangpokpi are staring at a likely huge loss.
These Meitei contractors have invested and spent huge amounts of money and machinery for road construction works under the PMGSY in several Kuki dominated areas, but due to the present tension between the two communities, they are afraid that the hill based contractors may not give them their share, said the source.
Moreover, they have already lost several lakhs worth of equipment and machinery in the hills.
While many of their machinery have been destroyed and burnt in Kuki dominated areas, a major portion of the machinery/equipment are still in use by the Kukis in their areas, said the source.