JKCCC demands urgent legalisation of raw material resources, end to ban

• Stop blocking supplies and threatening blacklisting, material doesn’t fall from the sky, says JKCCC Chief
• Chairman Jeelani Purza urges LG, CM & Dy CM to legalise raw material supply, clear pending liabilities and save J&K’s development sector

SRINAGAR: The Jammu & Kashmir Contractors Coordination Committee (JKCCC), Chairman Ghulam Jeelani Purza, has strongly urged the Jammu & Kashmir government to take urgent steps to revive stalled developmental works by lifting the ongoing ban on raw materials, clearing pending contractor payments and resolving long-standing mining policy issues.

In a press statement, JKCCC Chairman Jeelani Purza revealed that the Government of India has sanctioned projects worth over ₹10,000 crore under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in addition to ₹4,000 crore under PMGSY, as well as several urban development and town planning projects across Jammu & Kashmir. Despite these approvals, he said, work has nearly come to a standstill due to the ban on mining and extraction of essential raw materials such as sand, gravel and aggregates within J&K.

Purza expressed deep concern that local contractors are being threatened with blacklisting by authorities for delays, while the administration itself has blocked access to critical resources needed for project execution.

“How can we complete projects on time when all sources of raw material are sealed? Material doesn’t fall from the sky; it comes from mining. We are not demanding illegal extraction, we are demanding legalized and regulated sources so that development targets can be met,” Purza asserted.
He accused the administration of discriminatory treatment towards local contractors, citing the example of the ongoing Ring Road project being executed by an outside agency.

“The government is fully facilitating outside firms with access to thousands of truckloads of material and even altering natural watercourses (nalas) for them. If outside companies can get uninterrupted supplies, why are J&K’s own contractors treated like stepchildren?” he questioned.
Highlighting the severe financial distress faced by contractors, Purza pointed out that treasury payments, which previously took just 3 to 4 days to process, are now delayed by 2 to 3 months, leading to heavy losses and unemployment among thousands of laborers.

“Our treasuries are empty. Contractors are being crushed between rising costs and delayed payments. The government must prioritize the timely release of bills instead of indulging in political distractions,” he remarked.

Purza also drew attention to huge unpaid liabilities from works executed during previous governments, that while over ₹200 crore has been released, a significant portion of dues dating back to 2014 remains unpaid. “We worked for this very government, yet our payments are still stuck. We have repeatedly approached the authorities, but our pleas fall on deaf ears,” he lamented.

Calling for urgent intervention, the JKCCC Chairman appealed to the Lieutenant Governor, J&K Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Minister and the ministers of Mining, R&B and Finance to take immediate action by; Lifting the ban on mining and legalizing raw material sources to ensure the smooth execution of development works; Ensuring the timely release of contractor payments to prevent the collapse of the construction sector; Clearing all pending liabilities from previous projects; Ending discriminatory practices and providing local contractors the same support as outside agencies.

Purza concluded, “This is not a political issue, it is about the very survival of development in Jammu & Kashmir. Without access to legal raw materials, timely payments and genuine government support, projects worth thousands of crores will remain unfinished. We urge the government to take immediate action, before it’s too late.”