• ACAUT cites poor workmanship, incomplete work
• Demands disciplinary proceedings against officials
Morung Express News
Dimapur | June 13
Right on the heels of Nagaland Roads & Bridges Minister stating reasons for the inability of the government to maintain the roads in Nagaland, a number of road projects in Dimapur district have come under the scanner. RTI documents furnished by the PWD (Roads & Bridges) have prompted the ACAUT Nagaland to raise questions concerning six road projects.
Five of the projects, having a combined work order amount of Rs. 800 lakhs, were awarded to 4 different construction firms. Out of this a total of Rs. 600 lakhs has been already released, according to the documents (see box). Furthermore, the approximate value of work for the sixth project ‘Carpeting Works at Walford colony’ stands at 38.08 lakhs. The detail of this was not indicated in the documents.
Based on the disclosure, the ACAUT further conducted ground inspection of the projects on June 13. Poor workmanship, unfinished works and anomalies in award of works were observed by ACAUT on the projects. While stating that works are reportedly ongoing on some of the stated projects, the ACAUT expressed dismay on the quality of works executed in the completed projects. “The work done does not correspond with the money sanctioned,” the ACAUT told the media today, adding that work was found to be only half-done in one of the projects in particular.
The ACAUT further raised questions on the procedures adopted by the department while awarding the works contracts. The RTI reply from the Executive Engineer, PWD (Roads & Bridges) came with a disclaimer, which stated, “As the works are all under Maintenance & Repairs, NITs (Notice Inviting Tender) could not be published in the newspapers due to the limited working period. However, they were issued in the Division’s Notice Board.”
This, according to the ACAUT, indicates that established procedure was not followed, while pointing out that ‘Short Term Tender Notice’ could have been published if there was paucity of time. Quoting “insider” reports, it further alleged that NIT was not put up in the Division’s notice board. “The ‘Nagaland Contractors and Suppliers rules’ states that everything has to be done through NIT”, which has to be publicly notified, it added. “It only indicates a clear case of favouritism and ‘cronyism’ undermining established procedural norms.”
On the amount of money sanctioned, the ACAUT maintained that the supervising department must physically verify the completion of work and issue ‘certificate of completion’ before releasing the pending payments. “On one hand the government claims to be short on funds, on the other, it is handing away development funds without any checks and balances,” the ACAUT held, adding that the government should not merely wash its hands off.
It further stated that work on the Khermahal Police Point to Bata Charali stretch started only after the department became aware of the ACAUT filing RTI application on the stated projects. Work for the said stretch was officially allotted in December 2015, according to the RTI papers.
Asserting that all points to flouting of norms, the ACAUT demanded wholehearted disciplinary proceedings to be initiated against the officials and people responsible.
