JMC Contractors sound alarm over ‘anti-contractor’ policies

Oppose extended liability period, revised EMD rules and payment delays; warns of democratic agitation if demands remain unaddressed

Jammu: The Contractor Association, Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) on Tuesday staged a protest in Jammu, demanding an immediate review of several recently introduced policies, which it alleged are adversely affecting contractors and hampering the timely execution of public development works.

The protest was led by Vikrant Singh Bhadwal, President of the Contractor Association JMC, along with Irfan Ahmed, Vice President; Varinder Singh, Vice President; Raman Sharma, General Secretary; Sanjeev Sharma, Spokesperson; and Binder Pal Singh, Secretary. A large number of contractors, including Parvaiz Fazali, Rohit Bhadyal, Ravinder Singh Manhas, Rahul Kesar, Anil Dutta, Ramneek Singh, Ved Paul Devan, Bhagat Ram, Sushant Gupta, Aman Choudhary, Sanjay Singh, Vicky Gupta, Arish Malik and Vijay Mehra, participated in the protest.

Addressing the gathering, Vikrant Singh Bhadwal expressed serious concern over what he described as anti-contractor policies recently introduced by the Jammu Municipal Corporation. He alleged that these measures have created unnecessary hardships for contractors and are affecting the smooth implementation of developmental projects across the city.

The Association strongly opposed the introduction of a three-year Defect Liability Period (DLP), describing the decision as impractical and unjustified. Bhadwal said the earlier DLP system had been functioning effectively and there was no need to extend the liability period. According to the Association, the revised provision would discourage contractors from participating in development works and increase their financial and legal liabilities.

The Association also criticized the revised Earnest Money Deposit (EMD) norms, stating that the new conditions are financially burdensome, particularly for small and medium contractors. It maintained that the revised rules restrict fair competition and make it difficult for genuine contractors to participate in the tendering process.

Another major concern raised during the protest was the alleged practice of inviting tenders and issuing work allotments without ensuring the availability of adequate funds. The Association claimed that contractors are often compelled to mobilize manpower, machinery and resources despite uncertainty over the release of payments, resulting in financial losses and operational difficulties.

The contractors further expressed concern over what they termed as unrealistic timelines for the completion of works. They said practical challenges such as adverse weather conditions, difficult site circumstances, shifting of public utilities and other unforeseen issues are not adequately considered while fixing project deadlines, leading to avoidable pressure and disputes.

Highlighting the issue of delayed payments, the Association alleged that contractors frequently face prolonged delays and procedural bottlenecks in the processing and release of their legitimate dues. It stated that payment files often remain pending for extended periods, causing severe financial stress and adversely affecting the execution of ongoing development projects.

The Contractor Association urged the Commissioner, Jammu Municipal Corporation, to immediately review the new policies in consultation with representatives of the contractor fraternity and restore a fair, transparent and practical system that facilitates quality public works while protecting the interests of all stakeholders.

The Association warned that if its genuine demands are not addressed at the earliest, it would be compelled to intensify its agitation through peaceful, democratic and lawful means to safeguard the rights and interests of contractors.