In Himachal Pradesh, the contractors have announced to go on strike. All government construction work in the state will stop from February 7. The contractors have taken this decision in protest against non-payment of pending GST amount and strict implementation of W Form rules. Now no contractor will participate in the government tender. Machinery will also not be given to restore the roads closed due to snowfall. This decision has been taken in the virtual meeting of the State and District Executive Committee. Himachal Contractors Association President Satish Kumar Bij said that the matter has not been resolved even after talks with Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. The contractors are demanding simplification by amending the mining rules from the government. The limit for giving W form in Crusher has been fixed. In such a situation, the contractors are not getting these forms, due to which the amount of crores is stuck with the Public Works and other departments.
The contractors have done the works of the dungeons apart from the government buildings. Now when it comes to money, W forms are being sought from the contractors. The contractors are demanding full refund on works done before July 1, 2017, but till now this money has not been given. The contractors argue that the new tax structure was not in force in the government at that time. Despite this, refunds are not being received on the works already allotted. Bij said that paying GST twice is putting a huge financial burden on the contractors. The matter was taken up with the government many times but no relief has been given except assurance. At the same time, Archana Thakur, Engineer-in-Chief, Public Works Department, said that a committee has been formed to resolve the matter. Soon it will be resolved.
