Issuing stern warning to the registered hot mix plant holders, the Minister for R&B Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari today said their licenses will be cancelled if they fail to participate in the macadamization drive started by the department across the state. He said only half of the registered hot mix plant holders are participating in the tendering process in view of the new quality standards adopted by the department. He said the department will issue licenses to unemployed youth to setup hot mix plants to ensure macadamization of maximum roads.This was stated by the Minister while interacting with media persons here after extensive deliberations over the issue with the contractors and officers of R&B Department.
Regarding the entry of trucks ferrying macadam, the Minister said that instructions have been passed to the concerned authorities and all such trucks will be allowed to ply round the clock. He said in view of limited working season, especially for macadamization, the endeavour of the government is to cover maximum road length during the limited working season available in Kashmir.Urging people to cooperate with the agency carrying out macadamization work in their respective areas, the Minister assured adequate protection of contractors engaged in macadamization work. He said the law and order machinery has been asked to provide adequate safety cover to the contractors and workers.Expressing satisfaction over the quality of work, the Minister said need is to maintain it at all levels.
Regarding payment of contractors, the Minister said that the payment on account of macadamization works started this year will be made earlier or up to the end of this year. He said efforts are on to settle all previous claims of the contractors and assured that 50% of payment will be released by the end of this month and instructions to this effect stand already communicated to the concerned officers.Earlier, the Minister reviewed the problems of the contractors at a meeting attended, among other, the Minister for Relief and Rehabilitation, Syed Basharat Bukhari, MLA, Baramulla Javed Hassan Baig, Commissioner Secretary, R&B, Development Commissioner Works, Chief Engineer and SEs of R&B department and the hot-mix plant owners of Kashmir.Threadbare discussion was held to resolve the problems of contractors and the limitations of the officers. The contractors expressed their will to work in double shifts aimed to cover maximum road length within limited working season. They also expressed satisfaction over the system adopted and the cooperation they are receiving by the government in execution of the job.