"NITI Ayog has given the SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) for release of payment for timely implementation. HCC has been asked to reconcile the award amount within 7 days and thereafter open escrow account and submit bank guarantees (BGs) within 30 days for recovering the amount.
This communication clears the way for HCC for receiving close to Rs 2,000 crore within 4 to 6 weeks," a company statement said here.
HCC has arbitration awards for Rs 3,427 crore as of September 30, 2016. Further, claims worth around Rs 4,173 crore are in arbitration process. About 70 per cent of these cases were at the initial stage of arbitration process and the company has already given consent to transfer these cases under new arbitration act, which mandates decision within 12 months, the release said.
The cabinet committee on economic affairs chaired by the prime minister in September 2016 has cleared several measures proposed by the Niti Aayog to revive the construction sector such as easier norms for faster settlement of disputes between contractors and government departments, and partial deposit of funds by government agencies in form of arbitration awards.