• 15-day ultimatum to NHAN ends • Lotha Hoho & Rengma Hoho caution it will take own course of action
DIMAPUR, MAY 17 (MExN): The Lotha Hoho and Rengma Hoho on Tuesday highlighted how corruption and politicization of work orders was “turning the roads of Nagaland into riverbeds” while taking into instance the “fiasco” which delayed the road widening, and maintenance of NH-2 Wokha and Tseminyu sectors.
The two Hohos, in a press statement, revealed this through the telling clarification given by the aggrieved tenderer/agency M/S DRV-VASCON (JV), who blamed the National Highways Authority, Nagaland (NHAN) for the long delay in the road widening and maintenance of NH-2.
Representative of M/S DRV-VASCON (JV), on May 11 revealed to the two Hoho leaders during a meeting at the office of the Engineer-in- Chief that the contract work was given to one M/S Meenakshi Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, reportedly representing the son of a political stalwart despite the agency not even quoting its rate of tender.
The agency in question- M/S Meenakshi was defective, and hence ought to have been qualified but was awarded work order due to alleged “politicizing of the tendering and work order allotment,” it said.
The decision was challenged by M/S DRV-VASCON (JV) in Delhi High Court, who on April 8, 2011 ruled to award work to VASCON. The NHAN was also “fined Rs 15,000 for its procedural lapses in tendering and backdoor award of the contract work.”
Even then, the NHAN refused to comply with the Court’s order and instead, along with M/S Meenakshi Infrastructure Pvt Ltd took a Special Leave petition (SLP) and filed the same in the Supreme Court on August 23, 2013, which was however, dismissed. On August 25, 2013, in compliance of the Court’s order, M/S DRV-VASCON (JV) wrote to NHAN for allotment of the work to it at par with the existing status.
However, the Minister allegedly asked “favour” from the contractor and no action was taken by NHAN, for which reasons, the matter is pending for the last nearly three years, the VASCON representative told the Hohos.
Now with the DPR de-sanctioned by the MoRTH, and a fresh DPR submitted and being pursued for sanction, M/S DRV-VASCON (JV) is learnt to have informed that it would continue to fight for its rights to the end.
While expressing dismay over the “fiasco” leading to delay in the road construction, the Hohos felt that M/S VASCON had the right to claim the allotment of the work in 2013. However, it also maintained that M/S VASCON ought to have filed either contempt of court or made claims for damages within a reasonable period. Instead, it had kept silent for nearly three years.
The Hohos also expressed dismay over the non-action of the NHAN despite a 15-day ultimatum served to begin work in the NH-2 Wokha and Tseminyu sectors, which ended on Tuesday.
It also questioned why NHAN also abandoned work on the NH-2 stretch beyond 72kms, up to VK Station since the Court ligation is only for the stretch from 40kms to 72kms. The Hohos said it would go ahead with their own course of action, while cautioning that for any eventuality, the NHAN will be responsible.
It further appealed to NGOs, the likes of ACAUT, NPRAAF, CCN and others to take up the issue, not just for the said road sectors alone; but also for setting things right in Naga society and government establishments.
