Frustration and financial strain have reached a boiling point for contractors working under Delhi’s Irrigation and Flood Control (I&FC) Department. On Wednesday, a large group of contractors staged a protest at the LM Bundh office in Shastri Nagar, citing non-payment of dues pending for nearly two years.
Organized by the Delhi Region I&FC Contractors Awareness Association, the protest was spearheaded by association president Arun Sharma. Contractors claim that despite fulfilling their contractual obligations, they have not been compensated for their services since mid-2023. “This situation is untenable. We are being forced to continue work on new assignments while old payments remain unsettled,” said association spokesperson Tinu Sharma.
The delay, according to contractors, has not only impacted their business operations but also left thousands of labourers in financial distress. Many workers rely on timely payments for daily sustenance, and the long wait has left several projects under strain.
In response to the protest, a senior I&FC official assured the contractors that pending bills would be cleared within the coming week. However, many remain skeptical, pointing out that similar promises have been made in the past without results.
The Irrigation Department, tasked with managing Delhi’s critical stormwater drainage and flood mitigation systems, had earlier issued a circular emphasizing timely disbursement of wages. The circular mentioned that ISCIL, the designated payment agency, was instructed to prioritize salary releases. However, ISCIL has cited missing attendance data from various department divisions as the reason for delays.
Currently, all 24 major drains in Delhi that discharge into the Yamuna River fall under the purview of the I&FC Department. Contractors fear that a halt in work could derail vital pre-monsoon desilting efforts and flood preparedness, which are especially crucial given the approaching monsoon season.
In April 2024, the Delhi High Court had mandated the government to complete desilting of these drains by December 2025. Specifically, the Najafgarh drain—Delhi’s largest—was ordered to be cleared by June 30, 2025.
As per the decision in the 17th meeting of the Integrated Drain Management Cell, full responsibility for managing open drains discharging into the Yamuna has been handed to the Irrigation Department. Yet, without immediate financial support and clear accountability, contractors warn that essential infrastructure work may come to a grinding halt.