Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 30
The former Executive Engineer (EE), R&B, Phek Division, who allegedly issued a “completion certificate” for the construction of the road between Lephori to Molhe in Phek district, has now been impleaded as one of the respondents in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) over the issue.
In the latest hearing on June 29 at the Gauhati High Court Kohima Bench, the former EE, now posted under the Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B), was made a respondent by the Court based on the affidavits filed by the Commissioner and Secretary, Work and Housing and the Engineer-In-Chief, NPWD.
During the last hearing on June 15, the Court had directed both to file affidavits within a week indicating the steps taken by the State respondents against the EE, R&B, Phek Division, pursuant to the show cause notice issued to him on March 20, 2014.
The June 29 order issued by Justice N Sailo J stated: “On perusal of the contents of the affidavit, we deem it proper that the Executive Engineer concerned be impleaded as respondent...”
The Court listed the matter for hearing in three weeks, while the former EE was directed to file his counter affidavit during the period. The Court also directed the contractor (M/S Rhino Construction and Agency) to file an additional affidavit within three weeks clearly spelling out the status of the road projects.
The PIL was filed in 2020 alleging that a sum of Rs 30 crore was sanctioned in the year 2014 for construction of the road between Lephori to Molhe in Phek district and “completion certificate for the same was issued on 21/1/2014 though the work has not been completed yet.”
It further also alleged that in 2017 an “additional fund of Rs 15 crore was sanctioned for construction of the same road and in 2018 also the same amount was sanctioned for the same purpose but on the ground no road worth the name has been constructed so far.”
