Andhra Pradesh government urged to help contractors at local level

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh State Building Contractors Association (APSBCA) vice-presidents, VA Surya Prakash and V Rajagopal Reddy demanded that the State government withdraw the GO No 308 with immediate effect and help the contractors in the districts get works.

Addressing the media persons at the Association office on Tuesday, the two leaders said due to the implementation of GO No 308, hundreds of contractors in the state would face severe problems. They said the state government as part of Navaratnalu is renovating and constructing area, community and district hospitals in 13 districts by dividing as three zones. The total project was taken up with estimated cost of Rs 1,236 crore and 169 works were divided into three packages and tenders are called by issuing the GO 308.

They said only a small number of contractors will be benefited if the government implements GO 308 and added that most contractors in the state will suffer loss. They requested that the Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy withdraw the GO 308 and issue a revised order so that the contractors in their respective areas will get works for hospital renovation works. They recalled the state government issued GO to provide livelihood to the locals and allocate 75 percent jobs to locals. They further said they explained to the CM on June 25 on the problems of the GO 308 and sought the help from the CM to resolve the problem. They said if the local contractors are allotted works, they can complete the works without the support of sub-contracts. Association secretary MRD Prasad Rao and others were also present.