Lotha Hoho files FIR against Exec Engineer & contractor
DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 12 (MExN): The Lotha Hoho has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the Executive Engineer (R&B), Dimapur Division and the firm contracted for construction of an RCC bridge over the Doyang River, under Ralan sub division of Wokha district, under the Nagaland Foot Hills Road (NFHR) project.
The October was filed on October 23 at Wokha Police Station, alleging that the Executive Engineer had released “fraudulent payments” to the contractor, M/S L Pukhato Shohe & Sons, CL-1//52-NPW, before completion of the works.
A press note from the Lotha Hoho informed that the Superintendent of Police, wokha, has forwarded the case to the DGP, Nagaland, Kohima, for necessary action by an SIT.
A press note from the Lotha Hoho Chairman, Mhao Humtsoe and General Secretary, Mhondamo Ovung informed that the contractor was issued the work order by the Chief Engineer, PWD (R& B), Nagaland on March 15, 2014 and a revised work order was issued on November 21 2014 for construction of the RCC bridge. The work order amount was Rs.24,52,20,000 (Rupees twenty four crore fifty two lakh twenty thousand). The target date of commissioning of the said bridge was October 15, 2016.
Lotha organisations carried out physical inspection of the bridge on the September 11 this year and found that only 25-30 percent of the work was finished.
“The work done is two pillars with slab, from the abutment; yet to reach the river waterway. But although the target date of completion and commissioning of the bridge is now over by one full year, the concerned Executive Engineer, instead of ensuring to complete the work; had made payments to the contractor to the tune of Rs.18,49,73,074 (75% of work order amount), which amounts to fraudulent payment of bill to the tune of 50%, without work,” the Lotha Hoho said.
Citing information obtained through RTI, the Lotha Hoho stated that the concerned Executive Engineer had “falsely stated that 75% of the work had been completed which is actually the amount of bill fraudulently paid by him.”
The Lotha Hoho informed that they had brought up this matter during the ‘Colloquium on Road Connectivity,’ convened by the Nagaland Government on October 10. It revealed that the R&B Chief Engineer had “clarified that the work is abandoned.”
“The question now is why abandoned after making payment without commensurate work?” the Lotha Hoho questioned. It meanwhile also apprised other anti-corruption NGOs like ACAUT Nagaland and the NPRAAF to take note of this matter and extend necessary support.
“Nagaland cannot go on in such malpractice indefinitely and Nagas need to take the required deterrent action,” it asserted.
