Citing the percentage to be paid at various levels, the contractors have also demanded an inquiry into the financial dealings of the corporation. ``We are willing to cooperate by furnishing all proof required to help save the KDMC crores of rupees if we are given an assurance that our names will be kept secret,'' says the letter signed by all 41 contractors.

It adds: ``Repeated complaints to the commissioner have fallen on deaf ears and we have had to pay up under duress because we cannot afford to accumulate losses by not getting contracts. The increasing harassment is difficult to cope with, and we have unitedly resolved to oppose it.''

Claiming that the total moneyspent on securing a contract has crossed 50 per cent from the time of filling tenders till the final payment is made for the completed work, the letter states that due to their resistance to pay up, no payments have been made for completed works and fresh work orders on accepted tenders are being held back at the civic secretary's level. Standing Committee members, who are designated to sign work orders once they are cleared by the corporators, have not been doing so for over a year, the contractors claim.

Standing Committe Chairperson Bal Hardas (Shiv Sena) denies that any kickbacks are involved. ``They should have come to me if they had a problem from any panel member,'' he told Express Newsline, adding ``Now that the chief minister has been approached, I too support the demand for a high-level inbquiry. Let the truth come out.''

Mayor Anita Dalwi (Sena) echoed the sentiment. ``I had always heard vague rumours that kickbacks are given but this is proof and no time should be lost in finding outwho is involved.''

Municipal Commissioner G T Bandri claimed he was ignorant of the goings-on. ``Even if we assume that the contractors are exaggerating, the very fact that kickbacks are being paid is serious and merits an inquiry,'' he said, wondering why the contractors have been succumbing over the years.

A senior contractor who is a signatory to the letter says the immediate provocation for writing to the chief minister was the hike in the percentage of kickbacks by all. ``Particularly all the local corporators. They have begun insisting on 4-5 per cent only. With all the clerks, peons and officials we have to pay to get the papers to move across various departmentals, kickbacks cross 50 per cent,'' he say. President of the KDMC Contractors' Association, Deepak Kukreja, told Express Newsline

: ``If our dues are not paid, we shall have to launch an agitation.''

RATES DEMANDED

Junior Engineer: 4 per cent
Executive Engineer: 4 per cent
Deputy Engineer: 4 per cent
Accounts Dept(total): 4 per cent
Chief Auditor: 4 per cent
Civic Secretary, two Standing Committee members who sign the contract: 9 per cent
Local corproator (where work is undertaken): 2-5 per cent
Peons, clerks and lower officials of every department whose sanction is needed: 15 per cent