Shillong, Oct 29: The Meghalaya State Council of Contractors and Suppliers Welfare Association (MSCCSWA), representing the tribal contractors engaged in the state’s Public Health Engineering (PHE) Department projects, today appealed to minister Marcuise N Marak to expedite the release of pending payments worth approximately Rs 700 crore.
These payments pertain to completed works under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), a flagship programme of the central government aimed at ensuring safe and adequate drinking water to rural households.
The association highlighted that despite “successful completion of vast infrastructure projects as per the mission guidelines”, contractors have faced severe financial hardship caused by delays in payment disbursal. The unpaid bills held up due to procedural audits and pending fund releases from the central government, have placed significant strains on contractors and many belonging to Meghalaya’s indigenous ST communities and have disrupted ongoing rural water supply initiatives, the MSCCSWA said in a press release today.
Marak acknowledged the payment backlog in recent statements, citing delays in fund release from the central government. He confirmed that Meghalaya has received Rs 405.64 crore for 2024-25 but awaits the release of further funds for 2025-26 necessary to clear pending dues. According to the minister, the central government’s extension of the JJM deadline to 2028 involves mandated audits before fund release can proceed.
MSCCSWA representatives met with the Chief Engineer of the PHE Department to discuss these issues further, emphasising the financial impact not only on contractors but also on affiliated church community members who contribute significantly to state welfare and rural development.
The association urged the state government to actively represent contractor interests with central ministries and to implement timely payments, transparent communication and welfare support for affected workers facing economic distress.
