‘Rs 2 crore dues, repeated pleas’: Contractor’s suicide puts Maharashtra’s pending payments to contractors crisis back in focus

A 45-year-old contractor's alleged suicide in Navi Mumbai after years of pending government payments has reignited Maharashtra's ongoing crisis of contractors being owed significant sums. Gajubhau Devkate, a PWD contractor, is believed to have taken his own life on August 25 after repeatedly asking the relevant Executive Engineer to clear his Rs 2 crore bill.

The Maharashtra State Contractors Association accused PWD officials of neglecting Devkate's requests and demanded legal proceedings against those responsible, citing his distress as a symptom of the broader issue. Association President Milind Bhosle addressed Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in a letter, demanding a thorough investigation and legal action against officials they blame for this disaster.

They warned that without swift action, contractors would have no choice but to stage a protest. This incident echoes a larger pattern, with contractors previously alleging a staggering Rs 96,400 crore in unpaid debts across various government departments, a threat that was only averted after assurances from PWD Minister Shivendraraje Bhosale.

The latest case underscores the financial strain on contractors who have completed work but remain unpaid by government bodies.