Contractors demand payments as per new rates

Dharna Chowk: The contractors who are involved in Haritha Haram works such as maintenance, planting and digging and protection of plants have demanded the state government to implement new forest schedule rate. Currently, the state government has been paying them as per the 2013-14 rates. This was stated by the leaders of contractor association at a meeting held here on Tuesday.

Speaking on the occasion, the association members said that they have been incurring losses as the government is paying them as per the old rates. Contractors also look after maintenance various parks in Greater Hyderabad, protection of saplings planted in road median, they said. They have raised the issue earlier with principal secretary, GHMC commissioner and additional commissioner.

As per the norms, the government has to pay them 7 per cent commission to commission but the government has been collecting 7 per cent from their payments, they lamented. Contractors also alleged that some GHMC officials have been harassing them and demanded the government to take measures to stop harassments. While the new rates were announced on June 13, they were paid as per the old rates, they lamented.

Vice president of the contractors' association P Ramachandra Reddy, members M Sanjeeva Reddy, Madan Lingeshwar Reddy, Ravi Kumar, Santhosh, Brahmam, Ismail Pasha, Rajanikar Reddy, Venkatesh, Ravinder Reddy and others participated in the meeting.