Dimapur, August 17 (MExN): The anti-corruption team of NVCO and Kohima Law College led its team leader Kezhokhoto Savi conducted legal literacy and awareness campaign at Oriental College, Kohima on August 16.
The team members highlighted several topics such as disaster management, state consumer helpline with Toll Free No. 1800-345-3701, domestic violence, civic sense, consumer rights in reference to roads and bridges, protection and care to children, legal services authority, free legal aid to the poor, medical negligence, etc. The campaign was attended by the final year students of BA and Commerce including lecturers and College Board Secretary Khriesatuo Kerets.
Seeing the present scenario of road conditions and the government dealing with it, the anti-corruption team headed by Kezhokhoto Savi expressed their opinion in the area where “the civil societies are demanding probe and investigations into the government functionaries mainly to eradicate the corrupt practices but to certain union they refuse for it.”
A press note issued by anti-corruption team leader Kezhokhoto Savi stated that the talk in regard to funds for construction of roads and bridges is in terms of thousand and thousand of crores but what about the road condition and what about the quality of works? Who to be blame? Is it the public as a victim should blame the politician or contractors or technocrats or bureaucrats? Or to blame the system for not following either the NPWD norms or CPWD norms while awarding works or executing the works?
The team also added that to cite two issues, firstly the Eastern Nagaland Contractors and Suppliers Union has issued a press statement stating that the NPWD particularly Roads and Bridges has awarded 10 (ten) different works involving hundred and hundred crores of rupees has been awarded to a single firm/company who is a non-local Nagaland Class-I contractor without going through the norms and procedures (table-tender) and it was also reported that more Rs.250 crores has been marked for payment.
The anti-corruption team further alleged that firstly the works was awarded to him without calling any tender in public and secondly the huge hundred crores of rupees which can develop or established better projects for human development mainly for the eastern Nagaland area has been diverted to the ongoing works at a very high/exorbitant rates.
Further, it added that earlier the Nagaland Contractors’ fraternity has questioned and complaint for awarding the works of SARDP Project to Gayatri-Maytas JV at an abnormal price of Rs.1130.67 crores which includes 21.74% above the Nagaland PWD Schedule of Rates 2010 stating that no such rates has ever been awarded or conceded to any local contractors in the state of Nagaland. The 21.74% above SOR 2010 granted to Gayatri-Maytas JV amounts to an additional bonus of Rs.245.81 crores. Except the political parties no union or organisation has not commented on the present rate of cost escalation on the said project where the cost escalation which has increase from Rs.1130 crores to Rs.2, 988 crores termed it to be abnormal by the central government particularly the Ministry of Roads Transport & Highways, New Delhi and it was even reported to national newspaper and local papers.
Is it technically correct and normal that the cost escalation signed by the officials of PWD (National Highway) Nagaland and submitted to the concerned approval authority? However when the concerned expert and authority questioned the State government and NPWD terming the cost escalation in terms of thousands of crores is abnormal the government and NPWD particularly National Highways is still welcoming the probe. What is the reason behind? And in reality the works was awarded to Gayatri-Maytas JV but the entire works is being executed by a different firm which is Hyderabad based. The contractors involved were never questioned about the violations of norms rather getting so much support.
