Shillong, October 27: The Meghalaya Alliance of Contractors & Suppliers Welfare Association (MACSWA) has submitted a seven-point charter of demands to Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Public Works Department (PWD), Prestone Tynsong, seeking immediate intervention to address several long-pending issues affecting local contractors and suppliers across Meghalaya.
In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Chief Minister, the Association raised concerns over inadequate fund allocation, delays in clearing contractors’ bills, non-release of security deposits, allocation of government works and the need to revise the existing Schedule of Rates. The Association stated that these issues have caused considerable financial hardship to local contractors and suppliers engaged in infrastructure development projects under the PWD Roads and Buildings divisions.
Among its key demands, MACSWA urged the State Government to increase fund allocations to all PWD Roads and Buildings divisions to ensure the smooth implementation of development projects and timely payment of contractors’ bills. The Association also called for appropriate guidelines to prevent the unjustified splitting of government works, stressing that work packages should be structured in accordance with applicable procurement rules to ensure fair competition and transparency. It further requested the government to consider reserving works valued below Rs 10 crore for eligible local contractors, subject to existing laws and procurement regulations, stating that such a measure would create greater opportunities for local contractors and strengthen their livelihoods.
Expressing concern over prolonged delays in payments, MACSWA demanded the immediate clearance of outstanding bills under both PWD Roads and PWD Buildings. It stated that many contractors have been awaiting payments for completed works for a considerable period, affecting their financial stability and ability to continue business operations.
The Association also sought the release of the 8 per cent security deposits deducted from contractors’ bills, claiming that several deposits have remained pending for years. It urged the concerned departments to review the cases and establish a clear timeline for refunds wherever the amounts have become due under contractual conditions.
Regarding the allocation of government works, MACSWA requested the State Government to consider allotting eligible projects across all PWD Roads and Buildings divisions to qualified members of the Association in accordance with existing rules and regulations. It also called for a fair and transparent mechanism to ensure adequate participation of local contractors in government development projects.
Another major demand was the early revision of the Schedule of Rates for 2021–2022, which the Association said continues to be based on rates prevailing during 2020–2021. MACSWA maintained that the rates should be revised in accordance with prevailing market prices of construction materials, labour charges, transportation costs and other relevant expenses to enable contractors to execute projects at realistic costs without compromising quality.
The Association further urged Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong to direct the concerned departments to examine the issues and initiate necessary action at the earliest. It also proposed establishing a mechanism for regular consultations between the State Government and representatives of MACSWA to address the concerns of local contractors and suppliers.
The Association expressed hope that resolving these long-standing issues would improve the working conditions of contractors, ensure timely completion of public infrastructure projects and contribute to the overall development of Meghalaya.
