India, Feb. 3 -- Contractors working on development projects across the state have threatened to suspend work from Wednesday over pending dues worth Rs.1 lakh crore. Government departments started defaulting on payments after the launch of the Ladki Bahin scheme in July 2024, and any further delay would push nearly 300,000 contractors and 3 crore people dependent on them into financial distress, the Maharashtra State Contractors Association (MSCA) has warned.

"Given the mounting dues, we are left with no other alternative but to suspend all construction works," Rajesh Deshmukh, general secretary, MSCA said on XXXX, in a letter to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, deputy chief ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, public works departmen...