Mangaluru: Contractors in Dakshina Kannada have alleged that the Karnataka government has failed to clear pending bills amounting to ₹1,162.3 crore in the district alone, triggering sharp criticism and a call for statewide agitation.

Addressing reporters on Thursday, K. Radhakrishna Naik, district president of the Contractors’ Association, said a substantial portion of the dues relates to works executed under various government departments. According to him, ₹647 crore remains unpaid for projects undertaken through the Minor Irrigation Department. In addition, bills worth ₹300 crore under the Public Works Department (PWD) and ₹309 crore under the Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department are yet to be settled.

He further noted that the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat has pending payments of ₹6.3 crore to contractors.

At the state level, R. Manjunath, president of the Karnataka State Contractors Association, claimed that contractors across Karnataka are awaiting clearance of over ₹37,000 crore in dues. He demanded that the government release all pending payments in one go, warning of a massive protest in Bengaluru on March 5 against what he termed as prolonged non-payment.

Manjunath also alleged that corruption has increased under the present dispensation compared to the previous government. Responding to questions about earlier allegations of a “40% commission” against the previous BJP government, he said he would not assign a specific percentage to current practices, stating that such charges are difficult to substantiate.

“Will anyone pay bribes to politicians or officials on record?” he asked.

On works undertaken under the Jal Jeevan Mission, he said contractors are awaiting ₹1,450 crore statewide. He attributed part of the delay to the Centre not releasing its matching grants for the scheme, but maintained that it is the responsibility of the state government to pursue and secure the funds.

The association also voiced concern over the state government increasingly executing development projects through the Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Limited (KRIDL), alleging that the move sidelines private contractors.

With mounting dues and growing unrest within the fraternity, contractors have signalled that the March 5 protest could mark a significant escalation in their standoff with the government.