PHE Contractors raises concern over non-payment of dues
The Statesman | 21 September 2025The contractors appealed to the state to release funds during a Press conference at Press Club today.
The Jal Jeevan Mission or Har Ghar Jal Project, launched by the Centre in 2019 with an estimated outlay of Rs 2,08,652 crore, had set a target of providing drinking water connections to all households by 2024. West Bengal was sanctioned a project worth Rs 56,000 crore with equal sharing of expenditure between the Centre and the state. While substantial work has been executed—covering nearly 1 crore households out of 1.73 crore in the state, contractors are still awaiting payments of approximately Rs 5,000 crore, with another Rs 2,500 crore in bills pending submission.
Despite repeated extensions of the project timeline, the disbursal of funds to West Bengal has faced serious interruptions. Out of the stipulated Rs 28,000 crore, only Rs 13,313.54 crore has been released by the Centre till August 2024. The state government, in its 2025–26 budget, announced an allocation of close to Rs 15,200 crore to maintain continuity, but contractors continue to face acute financial distress.
Sanjay Biswas, All Bengal PHE Contractors’ Association executive member said: “Around Rs 28,000 crore has been spent on this project till now. We have uploaded bills for Rs 5,000 cr while bills for Rs 2,500 cr are yet to be uploaded at the govt site. We are asking the state to release funds, even if a fraction of what is pending, to tide over the crisis-like situation before the biggest festival in the state. We know the project is a joint effort of the state and Centre but since the state had issued work orders to us and also held inspection of the work, we are appealing to the state government.”
Around 4,500 contractors are affected by the non-payment of dues for the project which was supposed to be over by 2024, but saw extension till March 2025.
The association members said that till August 2024, the Centre had paid Rs 1,010 crore to the state, but stopped payments since then.
“We have mortgaged property, taken loans to get the work done at fast pace. There are many of us, who are facing medical issues and need money. We have to pay our staff and labourers. We fear if out of desperation anyone takes a fatal step that would spell disaster,” said Mr Biswas.
