DIMAPUR, JANUARY 19 (MExN): A book published by Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC), yet to be released, about the NPF-led DAN government’s 10 years of “misrule” and its “shoddy deals” is set to generate heat in poll-bound Nagaland. The book is titled ‘10 years of NPF Misrule in Nagaland - A Decade of Scandals and Corruptions - An ‘Expose’ by the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee’.
Enshrined in 22 Chapters, the book details various “scams” and other “corrupt practices” of the NPF during the last decade. In the book, the NPCC has defined chapters in department wise and Centrally Sponsored Schemes. Some of the chapters are named: ‘State Financial Position,’ ‘Reservation Policy for ENPO Areas,’ ‘Police (Home Dept.),’ ‘Scams in School Education Department’, ‘PDS’, ‘Rampant Corruption in MGNREGA Programme’, ‘Roads & Bridges Scam’, ‘Seizure of Cash’, ‘Slogans of the NPF-led DAN Government’ etc. The last chapter of the book is titled, ‘Neiphiu Rio’s Legacy’.
Meticulously documented, the book supplies shocking revelations about how huge contract works were awarded on political lines and to close associates of top NPF leaders including the Chief Minister by flouting rules.
In Chapter – VI titled, ‘Development of Infrastructures at Exorbitant Costs’, the NPCC alleges that the NPF-led DAN government had flouted all rules and norms in awarding the work for construction of various buildings at exorbitant rates thereby robbing the state exchequer during the last 10 years in power. “Awarding of works in all departments in the state was given only to close associates of the Chief Minister or on political lines, thereby depriving many capable contractors from taking up construction works,” the book reveals. It alleges that the works were completed at much higher rate with enhancement as high as 775% from the original approved work order rate.
The NPCC furnished the details of thirty one constructions as per the work order furnished by the department in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. The NPCC also emphasized on some of the constructions listed which it said had crossed all limits of cost escalation thus highlighting the modus operandi of the NPF-led DAN government’s “nexus” with some contractors to extract huge amount of money at the cost of the state exchequer.
Some of the examples cited in the book are as follows:
1. Construction of Cricket Ground at Sovima (Ser No.15): The book states that the work order amount was Rs. 8,29,46,020/- (Eight Crores twenty nine lakhs forty six thousand and twenty) but was revised to Rs. 72,59,00,000/-.(Seventy two crores fifty nine lakhs) showing enhancement by 775%. “This work was executed by M/s Chabou & Co which is none other than the firm in the name of Chief Minister’s son,” the NPCC stated in the book.
2. Construction of Fishery Office Building Kohima (Ser No. 31): The Work order amount was Rs. 20,57,250/- (Twenty lakhs fifty seven thousand two hundred and fifty) but was revised to Rs. 1,65,00,000 Lakhs (One crore sixty five lakhs) enhanced by 702%.
3. Construction of Banquet Hall, Raj Bhavan, Kohima (Ser No. 14): Work order amount was Rs 1,61,27,800/- (One Crore sixty one lakhs twenty seven thousand and eight hundred) but was revised to Rs. 1070.00 lakhs.
(Ten crores seventy lakhs) showing enhancement of 564%. The NPCC stated that this work was also executed by M/s Chabou & Co, a firm in the name of Chief Minister’s son.
4. Construction of Works & Housing office Complex at Kohima (Ser No. 7): Work order amount was Rs. 983.72 lakhs. (Nine crores eighty three lakhs seventy two thousand) but was revised to Rs. 3866.00 lakhs. (Thirty eight crores sixty six lakhs) showing an enhancement by 293 %
5. Construction of Industries & Commerce Directorate office Building at Kohima (Ser No. 11): Work order amount was Rs. 8,22,30,000/- (Eight crore twenty two lakhs thirty thousand) but was revised to Rs. 18,85,00,000/- (Eighteen crores eight five lakhs). The rate was enhanced by 129%.
6. Construction of Staff Quarters at Forest Colony, Dimapur (Ser No. 9): Work order amount was Rs. 2143.38 lakhs. (Twenty one crores forty three lakhs thirty eight thousand) but was issued @ 3% below schedule of rate and was revised to Rs. 4167.61 lakhs (Forty one crores sixty seven lakhs sixty one thousand), an enhancement of 95%. “This has deprived other contractors in Tender finalisation,” the NPCC claimed.
7. Construction of IPR Directorate Office, Kohima (Ser No. 12): Work Order amount was Rs. 4.12 Crore (Four crore twelve lakhs) but was revised to Rs. 6.94 crore (Six crore ninety four lakhs). The NPCC asserted that the purchase of Wazeho marble at an exorbitant rate of Rs. 1,650 per square feet was a “record in purchase of tiles anywhere in the country”.
While the book is yet to be released and NPF-led DAN government’s response expected, only a fair investigation into the matter by an independent body could ascertain if the stated inflation was necessary in any of the cases, and if the Government of India will take such a jolt, if proven, on its exchequer seriously.
