Morung Express News
Kohima | September 22
Against the backdrop of the three incomplete road projects in Meluri under scanner for possible corruptions, and the matter pending in the High Court following a Public Interest Litigation, the issue was taken up in the 12th Session of 13th Nagaland Legislative Assembly(NLA) on September 22.
The said projects are the stretches from Lephori to Molhe Post covering 26 kilometre, Akhen to Star Lake and blacktopping the stretch of TO-1 to Kamjang, an issue earlier reported by The Morung Express.
A written reply to a question put up by MLA and leader of the Naga People’s Front (NPF) Legislature Party, Kuzholuzo Nienu stated that the road project for TO-1 to Kamjang work order was issued on November 21, 2017 to Nagaland Steel Engineering Works covering 38 km at a total cost of Rs 2672.77 lakh (Rs 26.72 crore) and routine maintenance for five years after completion of construction.
Till date, an amount of Rs. 1436.33 lakh (Rs 14.36 crore) has been released, and the work is said to be ongoing, it stated.
For the construction of road from Akhen to Star Lake covering 15 km was awarded to M/S Rhino Construction Agency at a total cost of Rs 569.27 lakh (Rs 5.69 crore).
An amount of Rs 486.11 lakh have been released till date with overall physical progress of 85% and financial progress at 85%, stated the reply by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.
Ironically, while the above work is yet to be completed, a completion certificate was issued by EE PWD (R&B) Phek Division on June 27, 2013.
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Meanwhile, the issue elicited animated discussion on the floor of the State Assembly.
Dissatisfied with reply, Nienu pointed out that the reply itself was confusing as the status for Lephori to Molhe presented was only for 21 km with a shortfall of 5 km.
Despite the projected report, he maintained “no work has been done” in reality, further asserting that the UDA Government cannot remain silent anymore.
Incidentally, he is the Co-Chairman of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in Nagaland.
‘Action should be initiated against the contractors and made to complete the project,’ he added. Also participating in the discussion, MLA Imkong L Imchen quipped, “what more evidence is required if we go by the rule book” indicating that evidences are there for all to see.
Calling the current issue negligence on the part of the government officials, he further observed that all these years’ engineers have been functioning under the direction of the contractor, though in reality the contractors should be functioning under the supervision of the engineers.
Pointing out the various anomalies in these projects, he maintained that there is ‘an immediate requirement of law to take action.’
Questioning the issuance of completion certificate when all the projects are incomplete, MLA Yitachu asked: “As to which work was the completion certificate issued?”
In response, Minister for Planning & Coordination, Land Revenue and Parliamentary Affairs, Neiba Kronu admitted that the progress report is ‘weak’ however, adding that “we blame the contractors but it is the engineer to release the money after verification and at times politicians are also involved.”
Kronu also cut short the discussion and stated: “I have also great concern but since it is a subjudice, a matter in the court we cannot do anything and take any decision now.”
