VASCO
MES builders association of India (MESBAI), Goa, Chairman Umesh Salgaoncar submitted a memorandum to officer of Commander Works Engineer at Millitary Engineering Service at Vasco on Thursday morning to resolve outstanding payment to MESBAI contractors which were pending for almost a year, failing which they would go on an indefinite hunger strike and close down operation.
MESBAI Goa branch also participated in a nation wide tool down strike called by the parent body on Thursday to protest against non availability and shortage of funds for the last many months from the Navy due to which final bills of works executed/completed are pending and hence contractors were facing problems to carry out further work
They also stressed on the security gate issue at INS Hansa and INS Gomantak HQ which were not resolved despite giving correspondence letters regarding to problems faced by the contractor
Speaking to the media, MESBAI Goa Chairman Umesh Salgaoncar said that payments to the tune of Rs 500 crores of MESBAI contractors were held up across India and this was the first time in the last 40 years of his experience.
“We are an association of over 20 thousand builders/contractors and in Goa itself we are around 100 builders. For the last one year our payments are pending from the Navy and we are suffering. We are being told today, tomorrow the payments will come and we work exclusively for MES and we have no option to get income from any other works elsewhere. If our payments are not released before February 10, then we have decided to stop work and go on an indefinite hunger strike. We request CM Manohar Parrikar who was ex defense minister to intervene and help us out,” said Salgaoncar.
Another member Deepak Shah said banks were not willing to finance nor provide over draft. “We are suffering very badly due to GST and non payment of our legitimate dues. Our labours are going on strike. The Navy should release our funds and we cannot function anymore without funds.” Said Shah.
The Military Engineer Services (MES) is the premier construction agency of the Indian Army which provides rear line engineering support to the Armed Forces. It is also responsible the administrative habitat for all three Services and the associated organisations of the Ministry of Defence and has Pan India footprint to provide engineering support to various formations of Army, Air Force, Navy and DRDO.
