By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Dec 24: North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum on Wednesday called upon the state government to immediately release long-pending bills of contractors, expressing serious concern over the financial hardship caused by delays across various departments.
He told reporters that many contractors have been adversely affected due to prolonged non-clearance of payments, despite having completed their assigned works. He said that contractors play a vital role in the smooth implementation of government development programmes and projects.
The MLA said that it is the responsibility of the state government to ensure that contractors are not subjected to undue hardship due to delayed payments. He pointed out that repeated delays have forced contractors, on several occasions, to take to the streets and publicly voice their grievances.
Appealing to the government to give special recognition and consideration to contractors, Nongrum said the challenges faced by them are not confined to the North Shillong constituency alone, but are prevalent across the state. He added that the contractors deserve fair treatment. “I am not raising this issue only for my constituency, but for the entire state,” he said, adding that the persistent grievances raised by contractors prompted him to take up the matter and urge the government to act fast.
Commenting on the implementation of the Jal Jeevan Mission, Nongrum said that there is still a lack of clarity regarding the difficulties faced by contractors while executing the scheme.
He stated that these concerns require a detailed examination and informed that he plans to raise the issue during the Budget session of the Assembly in March 2026 to seek clear answers from the state government.
