With only a week left for Eid-ul-Fitr,the government treasuries in Kashmir remain empty leaving employees and contractors fuming. Treasuries are running high and dry in Kashmir due to which government employees are without salaries from past several months, said a group of contractors while protesting outside District Treasury Office Budgam.

Officials on conditions of anonymity told Kashmir News Service that treasuries across Kashmir have a liability of more than Rs 300 crore due to which government employees, pensioners and contractors are suffering immensely and are running from pillar to post to get their claims realised.

“Leave aside daily wagers, even the permanent employees of various government departments are without salaries for last couple of months,” said the protesting contractor, adding therein that they are only concerned with cash flow management. One of the contractors said that government has become bankrupt and it does not have funds to clear the liabilities of employees. “"How could it pay the bills of contractors when it even doesn’t pay to its permanent employees,” an employee said on conditions of annonymity .

Scores of claimants are complaining that they are awaiting payments for months but everyday they return disappointed. “My General Provident Fund bill is gathering dust as there is no money available in the treasury,” one of the government employees said adding that he was expecting that government would release his payment as Eid is advancing.(KNS)