Goa, June 20 -- The Goa Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council, functioning as an arbitral tribunal, has dismissed a claim filed by a construction firm seeking statutory interest from the Goa Electricity Department over alleged delayed payments related to a public works contract executed in 2020.

The dispute pertained to the construction of a compound wall, for which the contractor sought an arbitral award directing the department to pay Rs.1,98,454 as interest on delayed payments.

According to the claim, the contractor sought statutory interest calculated at 20.25 per cent per annum, contending that the amount was payable under the applicable provisions governing payments to micro and small enterprises.

After considering the...