The Hindu 15.12.2010
MCC agrees to clear dues by January
Staff Correspondent
— PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM 
DEMAND:Contractors staging a dharna in front of the office of the commissioner of the Mysore City Corporation on Tuesday.
MYSORE: The Mysore City Corporation (MCC) Contractors' Association resolved to suspend their agitation, which entered the second day on Tuesday, with the MCC agreeing to clear bills pending for at least six months by the end of January.
The corporation has also agreed to release Rs. 2 crore to Rs. 3 crore on Wednesday towards the payment of dues.
The contractors had suspended all work for the past few days following non-payment of dues since January this year.
On Monday, the contractors staged a dharna at the office of the MCC Commissioner, protesting against the inordinate delay in clearing dues and later barged into the office of the Mayor after coming to know that Commissioner K.S. Raykar was out of station.
Mayor Sandesh Swamy held a meeting with the association members on Monday and promised to take up the issue with the Commissioner on his return.
Nearly 200 contractors gathered at the corporation office on Tuesday and staged a demonstration shouting slogans against the corporation and its officials.
The Mayor and the Commissioner, who returned on Tuesday, held a closed-door meeting with the contractors' association president and others and persuaded them not to hold protests any further as the corporation would clear the dues shortly.
Association president Chandrashekaraiah, vice-president Malakondaiah and other members participated in the meeting.
The contractors claimed that the bills amounting to Rs. 37 crore had not been paid since January this year.
