<h1>Maharashtra contractors demand Rs 89,000 crore in unpaid dues for development works affecting 5 lakh contractors statewide</h1> Contractors in Maharashtra claim the state government owes them Rs 89,000 crore in unpaid dues for development works including road construction, building repairs, and rehabilitation projects. The payments have been pending since last July, affecting 5 lakh contractors with individual dues ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 20 crore. Three contractor associations launched state-wide protests, submitting appeals to district collectors for early clearance. Only 5% of dues were released before the financial year ended in March. The contractors warn of economic impact as they cannot pay suppliers and employees, while the government continues other expenditures like allocating Rs 36,000 crore for welfare schemes.