Wokha, September 15 (MExN): Days after the government approved a total of Rs 30 crore to take up emergency works on the ‘Foothill Road,’ the Lotha Hoho on Wednesday urged the state government and the concerned authorities including the Nagaland Foothill Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) to ensure that the funds are utilised judiciously.
Of the Rs 30 crore that was sanctioned on September 10, Rs 20 crore was allotted for taking up emergency works and Rs 10 crore has also been earmarked for the completion of the Doyang Bridge at Liphanyan (Governor’s Camp) during the current financial year.
In a press release on Wednesday, the Lotha Hoho pointed out that the work order for the bridge over Doyang River at Liphanyan (Governor’s Camp), was sanctioned in 2014 to contractors M/S L Pukhato Shohe & Sons who later abandoned the project after receiving advance payment of Rs 18,49,73,074 against a work order of Rs 2,452 lakh. The payment, which accounted for almost 75 percent of the work order amount, was made for execution of only 25 to 30 percent of work and against this fraud; the Lotha Hoho had filed an FIR against the contractor and the concerned Executive Engineer in 2017, it said. However, the NFHRCC had asked the contractor to resume the abandoned work before the Police could take follow up action, it added.
In this context, the Lotha Hoho stated that the pending bill for the bridge is now Rs 6,02,46,926 and as such, “The contractor should not be paid any escalation since he deliberately abandoned the work after receiving undue bill payment.” The saving of Rs 3,97,53,074 is available for other works, it added while urging the NFHRCC to ensure that the work is complete in all aspect by complying with all technical specifications. If any item of the bridge work is not up to standard, the Lotha Hoho would revive the FIR against the contractor and the concerned Executive Engineer, it added.
Further stating that the fund component of Rs 20 crore for other work items of the road should be utilised judiciously, the release stated that the Hoho would be vigilant on the progress of work and fund utlilisation.
