Hyderabad: More than 500 contractors took to the streets on Thursday and held a protest at the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) headquarters demanding that the civic body immediately release pending bills of 1,500 crore.
The agitated contractors even blocked access to the building by shutting both entrances while voicing their grievances against GHMC. The situation became serious after some of them threatened suicide due to extreme financial difficulties.
The protesting contractors were pacified by GHMC commissioner K Ilambarithi who requested them to end their demonstration and invited their representatives for discussions.
The commissioner later committed to release 600 crore by Sankranti.
Surender Singh, general secretary of GHMC Contractors Association, said: “Outstanding payments have remained unresolved for the past year, creating obstacles for contractors involved in civic work. The financial strain has affected many contractors’ families who are now facing challenges in repaying bank loans and interest incurred while undertaking municipal work.”
