In a dramatic turn of events on December 29, police intervened to thwart a suicide attempt by Ashok Chougala, a civil contractor, in front of the zilla panchayat in Belgaum. Chougala, accompanied by his family, arrived at the ZP office in the morning, where he alleged that officials, including Karaguppi gram panchayat president Gurusiddappa Payappanavar, panchayat development officer (PDO) Jaya Prakash, and technical assistant Vithal Borannanavar, had taken commissions from him in exchange for expediting his pending bills. Despite the alleged payments, Chougala claimed that they were deliberately delaying his payment, leaving him with no choice but to contemplate self-harm.
Expressing desperation due to the financial strain caused by the delayed payment, Chougala emphasized that he had undertaken the project by securing loans. His father appealed fervently to ZP CEO Harshal Boyer, demanding the suspension of the PDO.
In response to the plea, the CEO assured a thorough investigation into the matter. The incident sheds light on the challenges faced by contractors and the need for prompt resolution of payment disputes within the construction sector.
