DIMAPUR, Sept 14 (MExN): The Rs 38 Crore Peren-Dimapur project is running into another controversy with the two apex Organizations of the Peren district, the Zeliangrong Baudi and Zeliangrong Mipui (women) Organization pulling up the state PWD department and the contractors for manipulations and for carrying out the works short of the original specifications.
The two Organizations alleged that no proper soiling has been done in most portions of the works completed so far, by some of the contractors, and even breadth of the road does not tally with the size mentioned in the specification.
Out of Rs 38 Crore, it was learned that about Rs 11 Crore has already been released to the contractors.
“But the works done is not coming up to the amount already spent”, said Dennis President of the Baudi. Dennis also said that they are not stopping the payment, but the money should be release to the contractors basing on their performance and the quality of works.
“We want to say that the release of money should not be random. There should not be suspension of works mid-way due to short of fund. What we want is that the fund be released judiciously and ensured that the road is up to the expectation of the people,” Dennis said.
Except for Mohan Singh, who received the lion share in the contracts, the rest of the contractors are not doing up to the expectation, it alleged. It is also learned that from Medziphema to Punglwa, the contract was allotted to Pele Kezhie, the president of NCSU; from Old Jalukie to Peren to Charlie Sekhose and from Dimapur to Mhainamtsi village, the work was given to a kin of the Minister Incharge of Road and Bridge.
Dimapur-Mhainamtsi road, which covered about 13 KM has received the highest amount till date, with Rs 7 crore released, out of the Rs 11 crore, to the contractor by the department concerned, but the work quality is the worse, the organizations also alleged.
Moreover, the Zeliangrong Baudi, and the Zeliangrong Mipui (women) Organization has pulled up the state PWD department of drawing an ‘evil design’ by way of shifting 13 KM road project from Peren Division to Dimapur division along with the fund, stating that such intentional diversion would defeat the very concept of the project.
In a three page representation written to the state PWD Chief Engineer, the two Organizations, said that the Dimapur-Peren road project via Khopanala-Jalukie, under NLCPR (DONER) and Medziphema-Athibung Road, under NEC were accorded mainly for the proper road connectivity to the Peren district, however, it is regretted that from the very inception the project has been diverted from Peren Division to Dimapur Division against the interest of the people on the simple pretext that the Peren division was overloaded with works.
“Since it is clearly specified in the sanction order that the road is to be upgraded to Major District Road (MDR) from ‘O’ point 7th Mile to Peren, equal standard should be maintained, but diversion of fund from one sector to another sector amounts to manipulation or alteration of DPR and working estimate”, the representation signed by Baudi, President, Dennis Elung and ZMO president Adai Reunim said.
The two organizations also urged upon the concerned department and contractors not to take undue advantage of goodwill support being rendered by the people of the district, and more importantly their silence should not be misconstrued as ignorance. It cautioned that sooner or later the officer concerned will face the consequences.
“If the errors has taken place in the 1st LOC release the CE PWD (R&B) should see that such errors are redressed in the 2nd release of fund, failing which the concerned officer in the department will be held responsible”, the representation stated.
“We are watching minutely and if any such errors are repeated in the 2nd release one should not regret for any step initiated against the erring person or officer”, while appealing to the Chief Engineer (R&B) not to release further payment to any contractor if the volume of work executed is not worth the amount already released to him in the first running bill payment.
The two apex Organizations also cautioned the contractors that it would not compromise with sub- standard quality of work and would go to any extend even if the nodal department official overlook the manipulations of the contractors.
“Zeliangrong Baudi is a non- political organization and we are not against any individual, contractor or official, but would not be cow down by any evil design of unscrupulous persons”, it added.
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