Payment for govt buildings completed years ago is still overdue; me and labourers are financially struggling, says Architect G Shankar

Renowned architect G Shankar, wo leads Construction company Habitat group, has said the amount his company has to receive from the government for construction works completed years ago was to the tune of cores of rupees.

“The company workers and me are in financial crisis due to the negligence of various departments of the government, leading to the delay in payment for years,” Shankar makes this emotional statement in the video he has posted on his Facebook page.

“The default in payment for months and years after completing the works remain as a killing pain… Like everybody, we are also passing through severe financial crisis. We never thought that Covid crisis would prolong for so many months.

The chief minister had said that each file is a life. We are yet to receive payments from various department. We have not received. Rs 3 crore towards the designing of K Naryanan Institute at Pallikkatthottil, the inauguration of which had been done is still pending. We are also yet to get payments from Kerala University and State Disaster Management department.

I know certain people who are researching on how they can block the payment. It is difficult to live with the due amount if it is received four years later. Debt is increasing. When I think about what I’m going to do during Onam, heart turns a burning ember,” says Shankar.