Around 2,000 contractors under the banner of the All Odisha Contractors’ Mahasangha on Friday resorted to an indefinite agitation here protesting the “anti-Odia activities” of the State Government.
A large number of contractors on Friday first staged a demonstration in front of the house of Rural Development Minister Badri Narayan Patra to protest the Government’s “love for non-Odia contractors” to carry out various development works. They later sat in a dharna at the lower PMG for an indefinite period.
The association alleged that the Government is handing over construction assignments like erection of buildings at the SCB, MKCG and VSS Medical Colleges and Hospitals to non-Odia companies like larson Toubro sidelining efficient Odia contractors. Association president Prabhat Dash further charged that though they have been paying hiked wages to labourers as per the Government guidelines, the latter is yet to disburse the same amount to the contractors.