Khammam School Contractor Unpaid Bills: Shocking Rs 11 Lakh Dues Spark Major Protest

Khammam, Telangana, July 1: The Khammam school contractor unpaid bills issue has drawn widespread attention after a contractor allegedly locked the gate of a government primary school in Telangana’s Khammam district to protest against pending payments of more than Rs 11 lakh. The incident has once again highlighted the financial struggles faced by small contractors waiting for government dues under development schemes.

The contractor, Ch Ayodhya, claimed that despite completing development works under the Mana Ooru – Mana Badi programme several years ago, he has not received the remaining payment. According to him, repeated visits to government offices and appeals to senior officials have failed to resolve the issue, leaving him under severe financial pressure.

Contractor Locks School Gate Over Pending Dues

The Khammam school contractor unpaid bills protest took place at the Mandal Parishad Primary School located in Danavaigudem village of Khammam district. Frustrated over the delay in payment, Ayodhya locked the school’s main gate before classes began.

The incident temporarily prevented teachers, students, and school staff from entering the campus. Local police, along with education department officials, soon reached the spot to convince the contractor to end the protest peacefully.

After receiving assurances from the Mandal Education Officer (MEO) that necessary steps would be taken to clear his pending bills, Ayodhya unlocked the school gate.

Rs 21 Lakh Development Work Completed

According to Ayodhya, he carried out various infrastructure and development works worth nearly Rs 21 lakh under the Telangana government’s Mana Ooru – Mana Badi programme during the previous Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government.

The completed works were inaugurated by the then Palair MLA Kandula Upender Reddy. While the contractor received nearly Rs 10 lakh during the execution phase, the remaining amount exceeding Rs 11 lakh has remained unpaid.

The Khammam school contractor unpaid bills controversy has therefore become a major concern for contractors working on government-funded infrastructure projects.

Missing Records Delayed Payments

Ayodhya alleged that officials informed him that his payment process had been delayed because Movement Books (MBs), which are essential for processing contractor bills, were reportedly missing.

He claimed that the files remained untraceable for nearly two years, preventing the release of his pending payment.

Even after officials later assured him that the records had been processed, the pending amount allegedly failed to appear properly in the online billing system.

The Khammam school contractor unpaid bills dispute has raised fresh questions regarding record management and administrative delays in government departments.

Appeals to Officials Yield No Results

The contractor stated that he approached several authorities, including:

District Collector
Assistant Engineer (AE)
District Educational Officer (DEO)
Municipal officials
Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy’s camp office

Despite multiple assurances, Ayodhya alleged that no final payment was released.

According to him, officials informed him that although the bills had been forwarded for approval, the remaining dues had not been credited.

The continuing Khammam school contractor unpaid bills issue has left him financially exhausted after years of waiting.

Borrowed Money to Complete Government Work

One of the most concerning aspects of the Khammam school contractor unpaid bills case is the financial hardship faced by the contractor.

Ayodhya revealed that he completed the school development work by borrowing money from several individuals.

He said:

Rs 3 lakh was borrowed from the school’s former headmistress at an interest rate of 3 percent per month.
Rs 2 lakh was borrowed from a local Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader.
Additional funds were arranged from other lenders.

Because the government payment has remained pending for years, the accumulated interest has become a heavy burden on him.

The contractor stated that instead of earning from the project, he has been struggling to repay mounting debts.

Police and Education Officials Intervene

Following the protest, Khanapuram police officials reached the school along with Circle Inspector (CI) and Sector Inspector (SI).

The school headmaster, Daravath Bhadru, informed authorities about the situation immediately after the gate was locked.

The Mandal Education Officer also contacted higher officials to determine why the payment remained pending.

After officials assured the contractor that efforts would be made to clear his Khammam school contractor unpaid bills dues as quickly as possible, normal school operations resumed.

The peaceful resolution of the protest ensured that students could continue attending classes without further disruption.

BJP Criticises Telangana Government

The Khammam school contractor unpaid bills controversy soon turned political.

BJP State Chief Spokesperson NV Subhash criticised the Telangana government, alleging that several contractors across the state continue to suffer because of delayed payments.

He claimed that numerous contractors working on government projects have been waiting for pending bills for years.

According to him, Khammam school contractor unpaid bills similar issues have also been reported in Hyderabad, including projects under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

The BJP leader demanded that the Telangana government immediately release pending contractor dues to prevent further financial distress among small contractors.

Larger Questions Over Pending Government Bills

The Khammam school contractor unpaid bills incident reflects broader concerns surrounding delayed payments for public infrastructure projects.

Small contractors often rely on borrowed money to execute government work. When payments are delayed, they face:

Heavy loan repayments
Increasing interest liabilities
Financial instability
Project losses
Mental stress

Industry experts believe that timely clearance of contractor bills is essential for maintaining confidence in public development programmes.

Administrative delays can also discourage small businesses from participating in future government projects.

Government Yet to Issue Detailed Clarification

As of now, officials have assured the contractor that efforts are being made to resolve the issue. However, no official timeline has been announced regarding the release of the pending amount.

The incident has attracted attention across Telangana as it highlights the challenges faced by contractors executing government-funded development works.

Whether the pending dues will finally be cleared remains to be seen.

The Khammam school contractor unpaid bills case has become a significant example of how payment delays can affect small contractors involved in public welfare projects. With more than Rs 11 lakh allegedly pending for several years, the protest underscores the financial burden caused by administrative delays.

While police intervention and official assurances helped restore normal functioning at the school, the contractor continues to await the release of his dues. The episode has also intensified political debate over pending contractor payments in Telangana, placing additional pressure on the authorities to resolve the matter promptly.