Faisal Shabir
Srinagar: Demanding urgent release of funds, dozens of Hot Mixer Plant owners Saturday held a protest demonstration at press enclave here, against Government for ‘ruining lives’ and ‘playing a cruel joke’ with their lives.
Raising slogans against against the Roads Buildings (R&B) Minister Nayeem Akhtar, Finance Minister Haseeb Drabu and chief engineer R&B protestors demanded that ‘their bills must be paid at earliest’.
Protesters said that a year has passed and the payments amounting to Rs 300 crores which they have spent in the execution of works carried out by the R&B department are still not released.
Talking to INS Bashir Ahmad Khan, President of the HMPOA the owners had incurred loans from banks and they are at the verge of bankruptcy while government is ‘steeped in a callous approach’.
“We have taken loans from the bank to carry out work of macademization in various areas of Kashmir division but after passing of more than one year our funds haven’t still been released by the government,” Khan said.
Protestors urged Chief Minister to intervene into the matter and save ‘families who are suffering day in and day out’
“R& B Minister must immediately order release of funds in our favour as we are not in a position to carry out any work,” Khan said.
“We had a series of meetings with R&B Minister Nayeem Akhtar who assured us of the release of our payments but chief engineer R& B is repeatedly telling us that Director Planning is acting as a road block in the release of funds meant for Kashmir division,” Khan added.
Protesting owners said that they have been left with no option but to close their units as ‘financial crunch has hit them badly’
“In absence of funds from the government we are not in a position to purchase tarcoal from outside states,” protestors said.
Before being whisked away by police when they tried to march towards city center Lal chowk, protestors said that by Eid ul Azha if their demands are not mitigated they will close their units.
