By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 29: The Meghalaya State Council of Contractors & Suppliers Welfare Association (MSCCSWA), representing the Scheduled Tribe (ST) contractors engaged in the state’s Public Health Engineering (PHE) projects, on Wednesday urged PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak to expedite the release of pending payments worth approximately Rs 700 crore pertaining to completed works under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a flagship program aimed at ensuring safe and adequate drinking water to rural households.
The association highlighted that despite successful completion of vast infrastructure projects as per the mission guidelines, contractors have faced severe financial hardship caused by delays in payment disbursal. The unpaid bills held up due to procedural audits and pending fund releases from the central government have placed significant strains on contractors and many belonging to Meghalaya’s indigenous ST communities and have disrupted ongoing rural water supply initiatives.
Acknowledging the payment backlog in recent statements, the PHE minister cited delays in fund release from the central government.
He confirmed that Meghalaya has received Rs 405.64 crore for the 2024-25 fiscal years but awaits the release of further funds for 2025-26 necessary to clear pending dues. According to Marak, the central government’s extension of the JJM deadline to 2028 involves mandated audits before fund release can proceed.
Separately, MSCCSWA representatives met the Chief Engineer of the PHE department to discuss these issues further, emphasising the financial impact not only on contractors but also on affiliated church community members who contribute significantly to state welfare and rural development.
The association urged the state government to actively represent contractor interests with central ministries and to implement timely payments, transparent communication, and welfare support for affected workers facing economic distress. They stressed that prompt fund disbursal is critical to sustaining the momentum of the Jal Jeevan Mission and ensuring that “Har Ghar Jal” water to every home remains an achievable goal for Meghalaya’s rural and tribal populations.
The MSCCSWA called upon the government to work closely with stakeholders to resolve this payment crisis, preserving the livelihood of local contractors and the health and dignity of communities reliant on these essential water supply projects.
