‘No bribe, no clearance’; Odisha contractors accuse officials, engineers of demanding ‘PC', hold protest 

A major controversy erupted in Jaleswar block on Friday after a group of contractors publicly accused the Executive Engineer of the Rural Works Division, Umashankar Mallik, of demanding ‘excessive bribes’ in exchange for passing project bills.

Sources reported that the allegations were made by the Jaleswar Contractors’ Association, claiming that bills are being deliberately held back for those who refuse to pay the demanded percentage commission (PC), which is a term used for illegal bribes in public work contracts.

Contractors Gherao Engineer Over Payment Deadlocks

The tension reached a boiling point when the irate contractors gheraoed the office of the executive engineer on Friday, demanding immediate clearance of their pending bills and a halt to what they described as systemic harassment.

“They are asking for unjust amounts of money and large percentage commissions. If we don’t pay, our bills remain stuck for days and do not get passed,” alleged Gopal Nayak, a contractor who participated in the protest.

The contractors claimed that such practices were not isolated but part of a long-standing trend in the department. They alleged that engineers demand payment even after proper completion and verification of work.

Intervention by Local MLA Defuses Situation

The situation escalated until the local MLA intervened, following which the protesters agreed to disperse peacefully and allowed the engineer to leave the premises. However, tensions remain high, and contractors have warned of larger protests if action is not taken soon.

Despite repeated attempts, no response has been received from Executive Engineer Umashankar Mallik or the department regarding the allegations.
As of the last reports, no formal inquiry has been announced by the Public Works Department or the Rural Development Ministry.