Kohima, Nov 18 (MExN): Irked by the government’s failure to respond to its demand to release pending liabilities amounting to over Rs. 9 crore, nearly 3000 strong members of the Nagaland Contractors and Supplier Union (NCSU) today resumed agitation in the form of poster campaign across the state.
“We are demanding for what is ours,” “No payment no government,” “Stop fooling the poor public,” “Implement commitment to contractors, do not twist it,” “Non- payment spoils society and invites, killing, extortions, etc.,” “People need honest government not a ministry,” “Save your guilty conscience by paying for works done,” read some of the posters during the campaign.
The poster campaign will go on till November 25, said the NCSU General Secretary Moa Emchen. This would be followed by a phase wise agitation in the form of vehicle procession, stoppage of all ongoing government contract works, road blockage etc.
It may be recalled that the NCSU has been requesting the government for release of pending liabilities since February 2006 by submitting various representations highlighting its grievances due to non- release of pending bills.
Subsequently, during a meeting held between NCSU officials and the Chief Minister on September 8 this year in pertinent to the payment of pending liabilities, the NCSU was asked to scrutinize remaining bills and assured “verbally that the pending liabilities will be released as early as possible.”
Basing on the assurance, the NCSU undertook thorough verification of all relevant documents for almost two months and could bring to the final pending liabilities amounting to Rs. 9, 96, 86, 200 which was submitted to the government requesting to release it vide letter No. NCSU/GS-03/2006, dated 26/10/06.
“But to our dismay the government has not responded yet,” said NCSU President Pele Khezhie and General Secretary Moa Emchen in its recent ultimatum submitted to the Chief Minister.
Through a resolution arrived at its general meeting held on November 10 last, the NCSU submitted an ultimatum to the government setting November 17 as deadline to release the pending liabilities and “on non- compliance by the government, the NCSU shall resume its agitation in phase manner which was in abeyance since February 2006.”
Meanwhile, the NCSU HQ Kohima Nagaland informed all the NCSU registered members within Kohima to attend the office regularly from November 19.
Further, it directed all the members of the respective district unit to attend office regularly.
