GUJRANWALA, Jan 1: The entire development schemes of the district council, which were suspended following introduction of new government system, could not be restored as contractors demanded that their earnest money should be returned.

Reports received here on Tuesday revealed around 1,000 contractors registered with the council were awarded various contracts for the construction of development schemes, including roads and drains, in the remote areas. At least 10 per cent of an estimated cost of development schemes was deposited as earnest money.

It said no sooner had the contractors started work on the projects, the government held the funds of district council with the arrival of the new system. The schemes halted never to start again.

Meanwhile, the contractors had demanded that their money should be returned as they were no more willing to work on previous rates.

The district government forwarded the request of contractors to the DCO which was later sent to the local government for action.

REFUSED: All the government employees of Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) and Gujranwala Development Authority (GDA) refused to accept their salaries without increase by the government with effect from Dec 2001.

At a meeting presided by union President Waheed Iqbal Butt here on Tuesday, participants urged district Nazim Chaudhry Fiaz Ahmad Chattha and other officials to offer an enhance in their salaries as all the government functionaries had paid their employees under new pay-scale throughout the Punjab.