PL Leo Konyak
Kohima
It is pitiable fact to note that during the recent NIT Notification for Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yajana (PMGSY) Road projects tender in Nagaland State, 80% of the Border Area Road projects which clustered by clubbing two and more locations into single package in bidding, no contractor, firm and company dare to participate in the tender. One of the reasons being was, there were no qualified local contractors for the PMGSY projects in terms of work credentials and Tools and Plants possession and also bid criteria for ongoing PMGSY projects were like a sharp teeth and pointed horns. It was justified that projects clubbing two and more into single cluster was done since the cost of Hi-tech machine was very high and sublet contractor provision was given to the rest of the contractors. And even the other advanced tribes Nagaland contractors are not willing to work as the local atmosphere in Border Area is not congenial specifically in International Boundary region. On the other day in local daily, Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union (ENSF) officers had written to award the PMGSY project work to financially proficiency firm and their concern seem to be worthy of appreciable and right advised. But remember, in many locations in Eastern Nagaland areas during last PMGSY projects tendered, no single bidder participated in some packages and even the lone tendered was rejected without being admitted for re-bidding.
It is painful to learn that within the contractors and suppliers cycles, there had been pre-occupied discussion that, contractors won’t be able to execute the PMGSY projects in Eastern sector of Nagaland especially in Border area as Insurgency elements are rampant and locations are very steep and terrain. Moreover, same SoR in DPR for whole Districts of ENPO area. It is naked truth and truth is painful because the Longwa-Pongchao Inter-State National Highways Projects workers and Border Road Organisation BRO Tuensang-Mon-Naginimora Road Bridge construction site engineer was kidnapped by unknown miscreants and it is few projects to be named to indicate. And many road projects have been abandoned by the contractors as labourers were scared of working in the site and the rumours spread like wild fire that even the locality residents populous are neither supportive nor cooperative with the contractors and labourers. Moreover, there are same Schedule of Rate (SoR) for whole Mon district in ongoing PMGSY Projects, because the transportation cost from Sibsagar Assam to Naginimora and Tizit-Namsa is mere Rs 3000 per trip whereas from Sonari-Assam to Wangti-Monyakshu is Rs 45,000 per Trip and Longgwa and Tehok cost Rs 40,000 per trip. The numerous bidders participated near Assam Border PMGSY project from Tizit to Oting Village, yet no single bidder dare to participate in whole Mon District Border and some of ENPO area PMGSY projects tender could be the reasons of above cited grievances and preoccupied fear of facing the foresee problems. Whom to be blamed and who are the responsibilities of such setback? The Government of India and Nagaland State Government are going to implement the PMGSY projects connecting every village by 2027 but then if we are not properly implemented and if this trend continued, then I think our future is in doomed in the infrastructural facilities sector in the region.
The Ministry of Rural Development, GoI and GoN Department of PWD, (R&B), Nagaland and its officers are very much thankful for revamping PMGSY Projects in Nagaland. But where preparing the Detail Project Report (DPR) and executing the works, Schedule of Rate SoR abstraction must be considered not in District wise but as per distance in Kilo Meter and R/D block wise so as to meted out the justice to the contractors and smooth implementation of the projects. And all the NPGs are requested to think and consider the leniency over the grievances of the frontier area contractor’s case as we having numerous organizations in Nagaland which is unbearable to face the countless donation bowls. And the NGOs leaders, Village Anghs/Chairmen/GBs and general public are fervently requested to support and cooperate with the contractors and implementing Departmental officers for accelerating the speedy developmental activities in the backward area.
