‘Despite spending Rs 602.34, not a single kilometer in any of the four roads under the project were completed’
Our Correspondent
Kohima | March 20
The report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has found various anomalies in the implementation of the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North East (SARDP-NE) in Nagaland State.
The CAG, in its report tabled at the Nagaland Legislative Assembly on Saturday stated that the preliminary activities taken up by the Public Works Department (PWD) were inadequate for timely implementation of the project.
It said that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) prepared for four roads were not based on adequate surveys and investigation. This, the report said resulted in large deviation in the implementation of the works from the approved DPRs.
It also stated that a proportionate amount of Rs. 36.44 crore paid to the consultant for preparation of DPRs for four roads was a “waste.”
“As a consequence, not a single kilometer in any of the four roads was completed as per the objectives of the scheme despite an expenditure of Rs. 602.34 crore on execution of work so far. No further progress of work has been achieved on any of the four roads since August 2012. The single-lane roads which previously existed had since degraded and have been rendered almost unusable causing hardship to the commuters,” the report stated.
It may be noted that the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), Government of India had, in April 2008, initiated a mega road development programme in the North East region under the banner SARDP-NE. On April, 2010, the Ministry approved for two-laning of the four roads in the State of Nagaland in one package for Rs. 1,296 crore including centage charges. Accordingly, administrative approval, technical approval and financial sanction for the works were accorded in December 2010.
ACAUT demands action on CAG revelations of corruption
DIMAPUR, MARCH 20 (MExN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has meanwhile stated that the detection of anomalies and rampant corruption in various governmental department by the CAG report is “startling by any standard yet it comes as no surprise.”
A press note from the ACAUT stated that the findings of the CAG are “just the tip of the iceberg in the sea of corruption that goes on in Nagaland…” What strikes, according to the ACAUT is the “impunity of the officials involved in corruption.”
The ACAUT pointed to “gross misappropriation of MGNREGA funds for Aghunaga,” the alleged “payment of Rs. 2.32 crores to 48 ineligible and seven non-functional societies allegedly by the Director of Industries and Commerce,” and the alleged diversion of funds by the Department of Youth Resource and Sports as reported by the CAG, as examples of how “governmental departments are deeply mired in rampant corruption” and practiced with impunity.
The ACAUT demanded that the government immediately suspend the officials implicated/alleged of corruption in the CAG report, immediately seize moveable and non moveable assets of those who have been implicated in the CAG report, prosecute those implicated of corruption, and bring in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for an impartial inquiry.
